Trump Threatens to Invoke Insurrection Act Over Minnesota Protests

President warns of military deployment as clashes erupt following deadly ICE operations

US President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used emergency law that allows the domestic deployment of the military, following deadly encounters involving federal agents in Minnesota that have triggered widespread protests.

The warning came after federal immigration agents killed one person and injured another during separate incidents in the state, sparking days of demonstrations—particularly in Minneapolis, a Democratic stronghold—against what protesters describe as aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.

Deadly Encounters Spark Outrage

According to authorities, federal agents discharged their weapons in two incidents. A Venezuelan man was wounded during an arrest attempt on Wednesday, while an American woman was fatally shot last week. The events intensified public anger over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids conducted under the Trump administration.

Protesters have taken to the streets, condemning what they see as heavy-handed enforcement and demanding an end to ICE operations in the state.

Trump Issues Stark Warning

In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned Minnesota officials to restore order or face federal intervention.

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,” the president wrote.

The Insurrection Act allows a president to bypass the Posse Comitatus Act and deploy the armed forces to suppress what the law describes as “armed rebellion” or “domestic violence.”

Governor Walz Condemns Federal Actions

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz strongly criticised federal agents, accusing them of carrying out “a campaign of organised brutality against the people of Minnesota.”

In a video posted on X, Walz cited multiple alleged abuses, including agents breaking windows, dragging pregnant women along the street, and the killing of 37-year-old Renee Good on January 7.

“We must protest loudly, urgently, but also peacefully,” Walz said, calling on Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “end this occupation.”

The governor also urged residents to record any interactions with ICE agents for potential future prosecutions.

Federal Response and Street Clashes

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that the decision to invoke the Insurrection Act rests solely with the president.

Meanwhile, protests in Minneapolis have continued late into the night, with demonstrators clashing with federal agents who have used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse crowds.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the Wednesday shooting occurred during a struggle between an ICE agent and a man being apprehended.

“During the struggle, the federal agent discharged his weapon, striking one adult male,” O’Hara told reporters.

The Department of Homeland Security said two individuals later emerged from a nearby residence and attacked the agent with a snow shovel and a broom handle. The wounded man, identified as an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg. Two other suspects were taken into custody.

Political Tensions Escalate

Senior White House official Stephen Miller accused Minnesota authorities of “deliberately, willfully and purposefully” inciting a “violent insurrection.”

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also criticised the media, claiming journalists were “absolutely complicit in this violence.”

Broader Concerns Over ICE Practices

Criticism of ICE extends beyond street confrontations. Advocacy groups and foreign governments have raised concerns about agent training, oversight, and detention conditions.

Mexican authorities said Thursday they are seeking information about the death of one of their citizens at an ICE detention facility in Georgia earlier this week.

ICE reported a record 30 deaths in custody in 2025, marking the highest annual total in the agency’s history.