Minnesota protests grow, Trump won’t rule out using the army - Reuters
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US authorities have faced a sharp escalation of the situation in one of the northern states amid immigration raids. Mass protests, the use of force by federal agents, and tough rhetoric from the White House have led to discussions about the possible deployment of the military to restore order, according to a report by the Reuters news agency.
US President Donald Trump said on January 15 that he was ready to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy military forces in Minnesota if state authorities, in his words, are unable to stop violence and the actions of professional agitators.
He published the statement on social media, emphasizing that he intends to protect officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Escalation after the Minneapolis shooting
Protests in Minneapolis have continued for more than a week after an ICE agent fatally shot a US citizen, followed by another shooting incident during an attempted detention of a Venezuelan national.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the man tried to flee and was then shot in the leg. These events triggered a new wave of demonstrations that spread to other cities as well.
Actions by federal forces and residents’ response
About 3,000 federal officers have already been deployed to the Minneapolis area, patrolling the streets in military-style gear and masks.
Their presence has been accompanied by daily protests, during which flash-bang grenades and tear gas have been used.
After one protest was dispersed, unknown individuals damaged a vehicle believed to belong to federal authorities.
DHS version and doubts about its verification
DHS said the wounded Venezuelan, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, had previously been in the US under a humanitarian program that was later canceled by the Trump administration.
The agency stated that he resisted arrest. At the same time, Reuters notes that it was not possible to independently verify this account, and court records indicate only minor offenses in his past.
Conflict between the state and the federal government
Minnesota authorities and the Trump administration are blaming each other for provoking violence. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called ICE’s actions an invasion and described the agency’s behavior as disgusting and unacceptable.
The state has already filed a lawsuit against the federal government, while human rights advocates are demanding limits on the expansion of ICE operations. A court is considering the possibility of temporary restrictions, with a decision expected in the coming days.
What the Insurrection Act means
The Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the US president to deploy the military or the National Guard to suppress domestic unrest.
According to experts, it has been invoked about 30 times throughout US history, and the decision to use it remains the exclusive prerogative of the president.
Any potential deployment of troops in Minnesota would almost certainly lead to new legal challenges.
The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering a major expansion of the immigration detention system, planning to create seven facilities with a total capacity of more than 80,000 detainees. To this end, the government is seeking contractors and exploring the possibility of converting industrial sites into large migrant detention centers.
US authorities are intensifying efforts to reduce the number of undocumented migrants, including considering financial incentives for those who agree to voluntarily leave the country by the end of the year, amid a broader tightening of immigration policy and statements about the need to reduce pressure on the budget and the security system.
