Trump Considers Insurrection Act Amid Anti-ICE Protests in Minneapolis

Fri Jan 16 2026 10:57:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In response to escalating protests against immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, President Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act, signaling a potential military intervention if unrest continues.

President Trump has announced he may invoke the Insurrection Act to address ongoing protests in Minneapolis following a violent confrontation involving federal immigration agents. After a shooting incident left a protester injured, unrest has escalated, prompting Trump to consider sending troops if local officials cannot control the situation. The protests stem from a recent ICE operation that resulted in the fatal shooting of a local woman, igniting nationwide outrage. Community leaders and state officials call for de-escalation, fearing further violence.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act to quell unrest over federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.

He threatened to send in troops following a night of protests and vandalism in the Minnesota city after an agent shot a man in the leg.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an officer opened fire after he was attacked by three Venezuelan nationals with a shovel and broom handle.

Tensions have been running high in Minneapolis since an immigration agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, 37, last week, sparking nationwide protests.

The Insurrection Act is a 19th Century law that allows active-duty military personnel to be deployed for law enforcement duties inside the US.

Trump has previously stated he might invoke the 1807 law elsewhere without ever doing so.

The president posted on Truth Social that he would use the law if Minnesota officials failed to stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists.

DHS said Wednesday's shooting occurred after a car chase involving a Venezuelan national, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who was previously convicted for driving without a license.

The agency statement said after the pursuit, Sosa-Celis got out of his vehicle and fought with the federal agent.

All three men attacked the law enforcement officer before the agent opened fire, hitting Sosa-Celis in the leg. The agent was taken to the hospital, and Sosa-Celis was also hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

What we saw last night in Minneapolis was an attempted murder of federal law enforcement, said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

On Wednesday night, clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement in the Hawthorne area of Minneapolis, where many were reported injured and property was damaged.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has appealed for order, adding that the current state of affairs is unsustainable. He echoes calls for a cooling down of tensions, warning against further chaos.

Local officials continue to push back against ICE presence, citing the need for community safety and harmony, while federal officials maintain that immigration enforcement is essential.