President Donald Trump on Thursday warned he could deploy U.S. troops under an 1807 law to suppress ongoing protests over federal officers sent to Minneapolis to enforce his administration’s sweeping immigration crackdown.
The threat came a day after a man was shot by an immigration officer following an attack with a shovel and broom handle, intensifying fear and anger in the city still reeling from the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
Trump has repeatedly floated using the rarely invoked Insurrection Act, which allows a president to mobilize the military or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, even against the wishes of state governors.
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“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State,” Trump said on social media.
Historically, presidents have used the law more than two dozen times, most recently in 1992 when President George H.W. Bush deployed forces to quell unrest in Los Angeles at the request of local authorities.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he would challenge any move in court. He is already suing to halt the Department of Homeland Security’s recent surge, which officials say has resulted in over 2,000 arrests statewide since early December. ICE operates under DHS.
“I’m making a direct appeal to the President: Let’s turn the temperature down. Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are,” Gov. Tim Walz said on X.
In Minneapolis, federal officers in gas masks and helmets used tear gas Wednesday night against a small crowd near the site of the latest shooting, prompting protesters to throw rocks and set off fireworks.
Demonstrations have become a daily reality since Good was killed on January 7. Residents have confronted agents removing people from their homes and vehicles, demanding their departure.
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“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” Mayor Jacob Frey said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota filed a lawsuit on behalf of three U.S. citizens, two Somali and one Hispanic, who claim they were questioned or detained recently. The suit seeks to end what the ACLU describes as racial profiling and warrantless arrests. DHS has not commented.
A separate incident Wednesday involved a Venezuelan driver in the U.S. illegally, who crashed into a parked car while fleeing federal officers. DHS reported that two additional people joined in attacking the officer, who fired in self-defense. The encounter occurred roughly 4.5 miles from where Good was shot. Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the man’s injuries were not life-threatening.
In response to rising tensions, St. Paul Public Schools, with over 30,000 students, announced a temporary shift to online learning for those uncomfortable attending in person, with schools closed next week until Thursday to prepare. Minneapolis Public Schools is offering similar arrangements, and the University of Minnesota will provide flexible options depending on courses.
Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who shot Good, reportedly suffered internal torso bleeding during the incident, according to a DHS official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Details on the severity of his injuries were not disclosed, and the agency did not respond to further inquiries.
Bystander video shows three ICE agents surrounding Good’s SUV on a snowy street near her home. Ross, positioned in front of the vehicle, fires at least three shots as the SUV begins moving forward, stepping back as it advances and turns. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Ross was struck by the vehicle and claimed Good used her SUV as a weapon, a self-defense explanation criticized by Minnesota officials.
Chris Madel, Ross’s attorney, according to AP’s report, declined to comment.
