U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces in Minnesota, as protests in Minneapolis intensified following two shootings by federal immigration agents within a week.
The demonstrations, which began after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a U.S. citizen, Renee Good, have expanded amid a broader federal immigration surge in the city.
Federal officers have poured into Minneapolis in recent days, confronting residents in tense street encounters and prompting sharp objections from local and state leaders.
Trump’s warning came hours after a second incident in which a federal immigration officer shot and wounded a Venezuelan man during an attempted arrest in Minneapolis.
The Department of Homeland Security said the officer fired in self-defense after being attacked with a broomstick and a snow shovel.
Local officials said the man’s injuries were not life-threatening and that he was recovering in hospital.
Protests intensified following the shooting, with crowds gathering near the scene as federal officers deployed tear gas and demonstrators threw rocks and fireworks.
The earlier killing of Good, a mother of three, has remained a central flashpoint, with residents expressing anger over the federal presence and enforcement tactics.
Trump has already sent nearly 3,000 federal officers into the Minneapolis area, many wearing military-style gear and masks, according to officials.
Minnesota leaders have denounced the federal operation, describing it as an invasion that has strained local law enforcement and public safety.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he had witnessed conduct by ICE that was “disgusting and is intolerable.”
State officials have moved to challenge the deployment in court, with Minnesota’s attorney general filing suit this week alleging violations of residents’ rights.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to respond to the state’s claims by Monday, calling the issues raised “enormously important.”
Trump, meanwhile, has accused Democratic leaders in Minnesota of failing to control what he described as agitators and insurrectionists.
His threat to invoke the Insurrection Act has divided public opinion, including among Republicans, as the standoff between federal authorities and local officials shows no sign of easing.