- The situation has renewed debate over the limits of federal power, the use of military force on American soil
- Authorities said the injured individual sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound
- Trump accused Minnesota officials of failing to control what he called “professional agitators
US President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the military domestically following deadly clashes involving federal immigration agents in Minnesota, a development that has triggered widespread protests and political backlash.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the warning followed two separate shooting incidents involving federal agents enforcing immigration operations in the state, resulting in the death of an American woman and the injury of a Venezuelan national, events that have intensified public anger and unrest in the Democratic-leaning state.
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Protests have erupted across Minneapolis and surrounding areas, with demonstrators condemning what they describe as heavy-handed and aggressive tactics by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during immigration raids.
The demonstrations have continued into late hours, with confrontations reported between protesters and federal agents.
Reacting via his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Minnesota officials of failing to control what he called “professional agitators and insurrectionists,” warning that he would activate the Insurrection Act if state authorities did not act.
The law allows the president to deploy armed forces within the United States under claims of domestic unrest or rebellion.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz strongly criticised federal operations, accusing agents of carrying out what he described as a campaign of organised brutality against residents. He cited multiple violent encounters and urged citizens to protest peacefully while documenting interactions with ICE for accountability.
Walz also called on Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to halt federal enforcement actions in the state, warning that the situation risked further escalation if left unchecked.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security officials confirmed that one of the shootings occurred during a struggle between an ICE agent and a man being apprehended.
Authorities said the injured individual sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, while others involved in the altercation were taken into custody.
The White House has defended the actions of federal agents, with senior officials accusing Minnesota leaders of deliberately fuelling unrest. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also blamed media coverage for contributing to tensions.
Beyond Minnesota, concerns over ICE operations have grown nationwide. Mexican authorities have demanded explanations following the death of one of their citizens in ICE custody in Georgia, as new data shows a record number of deaths in US immigration detention facilities this year.
The situation has renewed debate over the limits of federal power, the use of military force on American soil, and the growing human cost of aggressive immigration enforcement policies.
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