President Warns Military Intervention Is Possible If Violence Against Federal Immigration Agents Does Not Stop Amid Escalating Unrest In Minneapolis
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 10:30 A.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON, DC.- President Donald J. Trump on Thursday issued a stark warning that he is prepared to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy federal military forces into Minnesota if state and local officials do not halt what he described as continuing attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers operating in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota.
The warning came amid intensifying protests and clashes between demonstrators and federal immigration agents following two high-profile shooting incidents this month during enforcement actions in the Twin Cities.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, President Trump said:
“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., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State.”
The Insurrection Act grants the president the authority to deploy active-duty U.S. military forces or federalize National Guard units inside a state when local authorities are unable or unwilling to enforce federal law or restore public order. Its use is rare and historically reserved for extraordinary circumstances, including major civil unrest or the enforcement of federal civil rights protections.
Violence And Protests Spark Federal Warning;
The president’s warning follows a volatile week in Minneapolis, where federal immigration operations have led to violent confrontations.
On January 7, 2026, Renée Nicole Good, 37, was fatally shot by an ICE agent during an attempted arrest. Federal officials said Good attempted to use her vehicle against officers, while community members and local leaders dispute the circumstances and have called for an independent investigation.
That incident triggered days of large-scale protests across Minneapolis.
On Wednesday night, another confrontation occurred when ICE officers attempted to arrest a Venezuelan suspect in a targeted traffic stop in north Minneapolis. According to federal authorities, the man attacked an officer using a shovel and a broom handle. The officer fired, striking the suspect in the leg after the Venezuelan national and two others continued the attack. The man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The second shooting further inflamed tensions and reignited protests already fueled by Good’s death.
Federal Enforcement Surge In Minnesota;
The unrest is unfolding amid a major federal immigration enforcement operation that has brought thousands of ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers into Minnesota as part of a broader nationwide crackdown ordered by the Trump administration.
Federal officials say the surge is aimed at apprehending violent offenders, gang members, and fugitives with outstanding deportation orders. Local officials, however, argue that the heavy federal presence has destabilized neighborhoods and contributed to unnecessary confrontations.
State And City Leaders Push Back;
Minnesota leaders have sharply criticized both the immigration operation and the president’s threat to deploy the military.
Governor Tim Walz has called the federal response “reckless” and urged Washington to de-escalate.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the situation is “not sustainable,” noting that the scale of the federal deployment far exceeds the city’s police force and has deepened fear and anger across communities.
City and state officials have also moved to challenge elements of the federal operation in court, arguing that it violates constitutional protections and undermines local authority.
A Rare And Powerful Legal Tool;
Legal scholars say invoking the Insurrection Act against a state whose elected leaders oppose federal intervention would be an extraordinary step and could spark major constitutional challenges.
Historically, presidents have used the law during extreme crises, including the civil rights era, to enforce desegregation and protect federal law when states refused to act.
As of Thursday morning, no formal executive order invoking the act had been issued. The White House has described Trump’s statement as a warning, signaling that federal authority could be used if attacks on ICE officers continue.
Editor’s Note:
This article is based on verified public statements and reporting from government officials and from President Trump’s Truth Social Post, as of January 15, 2026. All material facts have been cross-checked against multiple independent sources. Englebrook Independent News will continue to monitor this developing situation and publish updates as warranted.
