President Donald Trump has issued a stark threat to invoke the Insurrection Act, a move that would allow him to deploy U.S. military troops, as ongoing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations continue to grip Minneapolis.
Escalating Tensions and Federal Threats
The threat came on Thursday, January 15, 2026, following a violent incident the previous day where a federal officer shot a man in the leg. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the shooting occurred after the officer was attacked with a shovel and broom handle by three individuals during an attempted arrest of a person from Venezuela who was in the U.S. illegally. The man who was shot sustained a non-life-threatening injury.
This event further inflamed a city already reeling from the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer on January 7. In a social media post, Trump blamed "corrupt politicians" in Minnesota, stating, "If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E... I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT." He has repeatedly threatened to use this rarely invoked law to deploy the military over the objections of state governors.
A City Under Strain and Legal Challenges
The atmosphere in Minneapolis remains charged. On Wednesday night, federal officers in riot gear fired tear gas at protesters who threw rocks and fireworks, filling streets with smoke. Police Chief Brian O’Hara declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described an "impossible situation," noting that the federal force in the city is five times larger than the city's 600-officer police department. He said this presence has "invaded" the city, frightening and angering residents. The DHS claims it has made over 2,000 arrests in Minnesota since early December and vows not to back down.
Legal battles are escalating concurrently. A judge gave the Trump administration until Monday to respond to a lawsuit from Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Paul seeking to suspend the immigration crackdown, which local leaders argue violates constitutional rights. Governor Tim Walz, in a televised speech, condemned the operation as a "campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government."
Military Lawyers and Investigation Details
In a related development, CNN reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is seeking to deploy up to 40 military lawyers (JAGs) to support the Justice Department's efforts in Minneapolis, with 25 serving as special assistant U.S. attorneys. The Pentagon appeared to confirm the move, stating it "is proud to support" the DOJ.
New details have also emerged about the shooting of Renee Good. A Homeland Security official, speaking anonymously, told The Associated Press that the ICE officer involved, Jonathan Ross, suffered internal bleeding in his torso during the encounter. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has stated Ross was struck by Good's vehicle, which she claims was used as a weapon—an assertion strongly contested by Minnesota officials. Good's family has hired the law firm that represented George Floyd's family to conduct an independent investigation.
As Minneapolis navigates this complex crisis involving federal authority, local policing, and community outrage, the threat of military intervention hangs over a search for resolution and safety.
