US President Donald Trump has warned he could invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act to respond to growing unrest in Minneapolis linked to federal immigration enforcement operations.
The warning followed a night of protests, vandalism and clashes with law enforcement after a federal immigration officer shot a man in the leg during an altercation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the officer opened fire while defending himself after being attacked.
According to DHS, the incident began with a vehicle pursuit involving a Venezuelan national, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, who had a prior conviction for driving without a licence. After the chase ended, Sosa-Celis allegedly confronted the officer. Two other Venezuelan nationals, Alfredo Alejandro Ajorna and Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Ledezma, reportedly joined the altercation. DHS said the three men assaulted the agent using a snow shovel and a broom handle, prompting the officer to fire a defensive shot.
The officer and Sosa-Celis were both taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. All three suspects were arrested. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the incident as an “attempted murder of federal law enforcement” and said the officer had been ambushed.
Protests later erupted in the Hawthorne area of Minneapolis, close to the scene of the shooting. Police reported being targeted with fireworks, ice and snowballs, while several federal government vehicles were damaged and items stolen. The FBI announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the recovery of stolen government property or the arrest of those responsible.
Tensions in the city have been high since the fatal shooting last week of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an immigration agent. That incident sparked demonstrations in Minneapolis and protests across the country. Federal authorities say the agent acted in self-defence, while local leaders dispute that assessment. The FBI is investigating the shooting.
On social media, President Trump said he would consider using the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials failed to contain what he described as “professional agitators and insurrectionists.” The 19th-century law allows the president to deploy active-duty military forces for domestic law enforcement. Trump has previously raised the possibility of invoking it but has never done so.
Minnesota has seen an increased federal presence in recent weeks, with around 3,000 federal officers deployed under Operation Metro Surge. A federal judge on Wednesday rejected an attempt by state prosecutors to temporarily block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, allowing the enforcement campaign to continue.
Local and state leaders have urged restraint. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the situation was “not sustainable,” while Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appealed directly to the president to reduce tensions, warning against actions that could inflame the unrest.
The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good remains a focal point of the crisis. Videos of the incident show ICE agents approaching her vehicle as it was stopped in the street. As she attempted to drive away, an agent fired multiple shots. Online fund comprises raised more than $1.4 million for Good’s family, while a separate fundraiser supporting the ICE agent involved has also attracted significant donations.
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