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 indicated he might invoke the 1807 law in other contexts but has never done so. On Friday, he issued a warning via Truth Social that if Minnesota officials failed to curb the actions of professional agitators and insurrectionists, he would take action.
DHS stated that Wednesday's shooting involved a chaotic car chase with a Venezuelan national, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who fought with a federal agent after exiting his vehicle. He and two others attacked the officer before shots were fired, resulting in Sosa-Celis suffering a leg wound.
Clashes erupted between protesters and law enforcement following the incident, leading to property damage and injuries. The local police chief reported that officers faced projectiles during the confrontations.
In recent weeks, approximately 3,000 federal officers have been dispatched to Minnesota, intensifying the situation amidst existing protests against immigration enforcement.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has publicly requested the withdrawal of ICE from the area, citing the ongoing unrest as unsustainable. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has urged for a de-escalation of tensions and a reassessment of the federal presence in the state.
As tensions continue to simmer, the implications of Trump's threat could significantly alter the landscape of law enforcement and federal intervention in local protests.
