U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy federal troops in Minnesota if state authorities fail to curb protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minneapolis.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, January 15, Trump described the protesters as “professional agitators and insurrectionists,” accusing Minnesota officials of failing to protect ICE agents carrying out their duties.
Trump’s comments followed recent violent incidents involving federal immigration officers in the city. Last week, an ICE officer shot and killed a protester, Renee Good, while another federal agent shot and wounded a man during an arrest attempt on Wednesday night.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the injured man was shot in the leg after resisting arrest, adding that the officer fired a “defensive shot” after being attacked with a snow shovel and broom handle by individuals who joined the confrontation.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have criticized the continued federal presence, arguing that ICE operations are heightening tensions. City and state officials have renewed calls for federal immigration officers to leave Minneapolis, reaffirming support for immigrant and refugee communities.
The Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the U.S. president to deploy the military or federalize the National Guard to address domestic unrest or enforce federal law in extreme cases. While often confused with martial law, the act permits military support for civilian authorities rather than replacing them.
The law has been used roughly 30 times in U.S. history, most recently in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots. Trump previously threatened to invoke the act during the 2020 George Floyd protests and again in 2025 amid demonstrations against ICE in Los Angeles.