President Donald Trump said Thursday he may invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota if what he called “agitators” continue attacking federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that if Minnesota leaders “don’t obey the law” and stop those he described as “professional agitators and insurrectionists,” he would “institute the INSURRECTION ACT” to “quickly put an end” to the unrest.
The warning follows a second ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis in recent days.
ICE says agent fired after alleged assault during arrest attempt
On Wednesday, an ICE agent shot a man in the leg during an attempted arrest. The Department of Homeland Security said the agent fired because he feared for his life after the suspect resisted arrest and “violently assaulted the officer.” The suspect was reported to be in stable condition and is now in custody. The agent was reportedly hospitalized.
What the Insurrection Act allows
The Insurrection Act is an 1807 law that gives a president authority, under certain circumstances, to deploy military forces to suppress unrest and enforce federal law. If invoked, it can allow the federal government to take control of a state’s National Guard and deploy active-duty troops. It has not been used since the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Walz urges calm; White House blames Minnesota Democrats
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz responded to Trump’s post on X with a call for de-escalation, urging Minnesotans to speak out “loudly” and “urgently,” but peacefully, and warning against “fanning the flames of chaos.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson pushed back, accusing Minnesota’s Democratic leaders of inflaming tensions and “smear[ing]” ICE officers. Jackson said ICE operations in Minnesota have targeted individuals accused of serious crimes, including sexual assault, drug trafficking and domestic abuse, and argued the administration would continue enforcing immigration law.
Earlier Minneapolis incident still fueling tension
The latest shooting comes after an incident last week in Minneapolis in which Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by an ICE agent. Authorities alleged she attempted to ram her vehicle into federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation.
Protests continued Wednesday following the newest shooting, with demonstrators using horns and whistles while officers deployed tear gas and pepper balls as tensions escalated.
