Trump Signals Insurrection Act as Minnesota Faces Massive Immigration Crackdown and Growing Protests
Updated (2 articles)
Mass Immigration Sweep Marks Largest Minnesota Operation Federal officials label the current campaign the biggest immigration enforcement effort in Minnesota, reporting more than 2,000 arrests since it began in December 2024 [2]. Agents executed a high‑profile raid in a Minneapolis neighborhood, ramming a home’s door while demonstrators shouted outside [2]. The Department of Homeland Security frames the operation as essential to national security, while local leaders decry its impact on immigrant communities [1][2].
Renee Good Shooting Triggers Federal and Local Investigations On January 5, ICE officer shot 37‑year‑old Renee Good, who was later pronounced dead, prompting an FBI inquiry into the use of force [1][2]. Federal authorities argue the officer acted in self‑defence, whereas city officials claim they have been denied access to critical evidence [1]. A second incident involved a DHS officer wounding a Venezuelan migrant after an alleged shovel attack, a claim the family disputes [1].
Protests and Community Safeguards Intensify Across Minneapolis Demonstrators have gathered nightly outside federal buildings, with some protests turning confrontational during raids [2]. Over 20,000 residents have signed up as observers to monitor enforcement actions, and Minneapolis public schools shifted to remote learning for a month to protect students [2]. A federal judge recently barred agents from arresting or pepper‑spraying peaceful protesters, limiting crowd‑control tactics [1].
Federal Authorities Prepare Troops Amid Legal and Political Pushback About 1,500 active‑duty troops remain on standby for possible deployment as President Trump hints at invoking the Insurrection Act to enforce the deportation drive [1]. The Justice Department opened a criminal probe into Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of obstructing federal immigration operations [1]. These moves occur alongside the judge’s restrictions and the second shooting, highlighting escalating tensions between federal and state authorities [1].
Sources (2 articles)
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[1]
BBC: Trump tests boundaries of power as Minnesota resists immigration crackdown: Details federal troop standby, potential Insurrection Act use, a judge’s limits on crowd‑control, a second DHS shooting, and a DOJ probe into state leaders, emphasizing the administration’s aggressive stance .
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[2]
AP: Dramatic federal immigration arrest in Minneapolis sparks protests and questions about oversight: Describes the door‑ramming raid, the scale of the enforcement effort, Good’s fatal shooting, extensive community observer training, remote‑learning school response, and Democratic calls for state‑led investigations .
Timeline
Nov 2024 – After the 2024 election, more than 20,000 Minnesotans enroll in observer‑training programs to monitor federal immigration actions, showing a deep grassroots pushback against the looming crackdown. [2]
Dec 2025 – The Department of Homeland Security launches Minnesota’s “largest immigration enforcement effort,” kicking off a statewide crackdown that quickly tops 2,000 arrests. [2]
Jan 11, 2026 – Federal agents ram the door of a Minneapolis home and haul a man away while protesters shout and honk outside, exemplifying the aggressive tactics of the enforcement sweep that follows the fatal shooting of Renee Good earlier that week. [2]
Jan 11, 2026 – ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons defends the officer who shot Good, saying the officer “had only milliseconds to act,” a claim that fuels demands for an independent investigation. [2]
Jan 12, 2026 – Minneapolis public schools shift to remote learning for a month as protests and safety concerns surge across the city, highlighting the broader social disruption caused by the enforcement campaign. [2]
Jan 18, 2026 – A federal judge orders agents not to arrest or pepper‑spray peaceful demonstrators, curbing crowd‑control measures and signaling heightened judicial scrutiny of the crackdown. [1]
Jan 18, 2026 – About 1,500 federal troops stand ready for deployment to Minnesota as President Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act, revealing the administration’s willingness to militarize domestic immigration enforcement. [1]
Jan 18, 2026 – The Justice Department opens a criminal probe into Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of obstructing federal immigration operations; Walz retorts that the move “weaponizes the justice system against opponents.” [1]
Jan 18, 2026 – DHS reports a second shooting in Minneapolis, where an officer wounds a Venezuelan migrant after being attacked with a shovel; the department repeats its narrative that the officer followed protocol, while the family disputes the account. [1]
Jan 18, 2026 – President Trump reaffirms his commitment to the mass‑deportation drive in Minnesota, pledging to press ahead despite local resistance and hinting at further federal force. [1]