President Donald Trump threatened Thursday to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota amid ongoing protests against federal immigration agents. The warning follows days of unrest sparked by the killing of Renee Good by a federal immigration officer.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would use the Insurrection Act if Minnesota’s Democratic leaders fail to stop what he called “professional agitators and insurrectionists.” He accused protesters of attacking Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and demanded state officials restore order.
Protests began after Good, a U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by an ICE agent last week. Tensions increased further on Wednesday when federal agents shot a Venezuelan migrant in the leg during an arrest in Minneapolis, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The Insurrection Act allows a president to deploy the U.S. military within the country in cases where federal law cannot be enforced through normal means. The law dates back to 1792 and has been used about 30 times in U.S. history.
If Trump follows through, it would mark the first time he invokes the Insurrection Act during his presidency. While he has sent troops to U.S. cities before, this law gives the president broader authority that is harder to challenge in court.
Under the Insurrection Act, the military can enforce federal law and carry out actions normally handled by law enforcement. However, experts say troops cannot enforce state or local laws, and the president’s authority is not unlimited.
Minnesota leaders have strongly criticized the federal response. Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis officials have accused immigration agents of aggressive tactics and say their presence is increasing fear and instability in the state.
Protests continued this week, with hundreds of demonstrators clashing with heavily armed federal agents. Authorities used chemical irritants to disperse crowds as tensions remained high across Minneapolis.
