President Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to deploy troops to quell protests in Minnesota after two shootings, one fatal, by federal immigration enforcement agents there.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the rarely used federal law to deploy the U.S. military or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, over the objections of state governors, including in Illinois last fall.
“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State,” Trump said in social media post.
Here is the latest on the ICE surge in Minnesota
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he’s tried to get a hold of the president directly Thursday. He is also convening business leaders, members of Congress, other governors and civil leaders “to make an appeal to the administration to reverse course and turn down the temperature.”
- An ICE officer shot a Venezuelan national in the leg Wednesday night in north Minneapolis after the officer was allegedly attacked by men with a “shovel and broom handle,” three U.S. officials told CBS News.
- Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gave a rare primetime address Wednesday night where he called on Mr. Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “end the occupation.” He also called on Minnesotans to record ICE’s activity for future prosecution.
- A judge on Wednesday morning declined to issue a temporary restraining order against ICE operations in Minnesota, seeking further evidence before issuing a ruling.
- The Department of Homeland Security says there are now nearly 3,000 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers deployed in the area.
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