US President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act to quell unrest over federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
He threatened to send in troops following a night of protests and vandalism in the Minnesota city after an agent shot a man in the leg.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that an officer opened fire after being attacked by three Venezuelan nationals with a shovel and broom handle.
Tensions have been running high in Minneapolis since an immigration agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, 37, last week, sparking nationwide protests.
The Insurrection Act is a 19th Century law that allows active-duty military personnel to be deployed for law enforcement duties inside the US, with Trump expressing willingness to trigger this law if Minnesota leaders fail to handle 'professional agitators and insurrectionists'.
Clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement in the Hawthorne area, with city police chief Brian O'Hara reporting that his officers were attacked with fireworks, ice, and snowballs, while several government vehicles were damaged.
Around 3,000 federal officers have been deployed to Minnesota amid ongoing tensions regarding immigration enforcement, with protests escalating after the shooting incident involving a man identified as Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
Local officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have voiced their opposition to ongoing ICE operations, emphasizing the unsustainability of the current situation.
The conflict has drawn attention to the controversial practices of ICE and the broader implications of federal immigration policies in communities across the country. As protests continue, community leaders are demanding answers and accountability from federal authorities.
