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Trump invokes Insurrection Act threat as Minneapolis protests escalate
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned he may deploy active-duty military to Minneapolis under the 1807 Insurrection Act, following violent clashes between protesters and federal agents. The unrest erupted after an immigration officer shot a Venezuelan national during a confrontation.
Federal agent shoots suspect after attack with makeshift weapons
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that a federal officer opened fire on Wednesday after being assaulted by three Venezuelan nationals. The incident occurred following a car chase involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who had prior convictions for driving without a license.
According to DHS, Sosa-Celis exited his vehicle and engaged in a physical altercation with the officer. Two other Venezuelan nationals, Alfredo Alejandro Ajorna and Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Ledezma, emerged from a nearby apartment and joined the attack, wielding a snow shovel and broom handle. The officer fired in response, wounding Sosa-Celis in the leg.
Both the agent and Sosa-Celis were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. All three suspects were arrested. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as an "attempted murder of federal law enforcement," asserting the officer acted in self-defense.
Protests turn violent as federal property targeted
Demonstrations erupted in Minneapolis's Hawthorne neighborhood on Wednesday night, near the shooting site. Police Chief Brian O'Hara reported that officers were struck by fireworks, ice, and snowballs during clashes with protesters.
The FBI confirmed that federal vehicles were damaged, and equipment was stolen. A reward of up to $100,000 has been offered for information leading to the recovery of stolen property or the arrest of those responsible for the vandalism.
Political leaders urge de-escalation amid rising tensions
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has previously demanded the removal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from the city, called the situation "unsustainable" in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, appealed directly to Trump to "turn the temperature down," warning against further inflaming tensions.
Walz, who recently ended his re-election campaign following a welfare fraud scandal, has been vocal in his criticism of ICE, comparing the agency to a "modern-day Gestapo."
Legal battle over ICE operations intensifies
Trump announced that Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement initiative, will continue in Minnesota despite a federal judge's rejection of a temporary restraining order sought by state prosecutors. The operation has faced backlash since the January 7 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, an incident currently under FBI investigation.
The Trump administration maintains the agent acted in self-defense, while local officials argue Good posed no threat. Footage of the shooting shows agents approaching a vehicle before one officer fires three shots as Good attempts to drive away.
Public reaction has been polarized: a fundraiser for Good's family has raised over $1.4 million, while a separate campaign for the ICE agent involved has collected $740,000.
Historical law at center of controversy
The Insurrection Act, last invoked in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots, grants the president authority to deploy military forces for domestic law enforcement. Trump has previously threatened to use the law but has not followed through. His latest statement on Truth Social suggested he would act if state officials failed to curb what he termed "professional agitators and insurrectionists."
"We cannot fan the flames of chaos," Governor Walz said in a plea for calm.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
