Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis amid ongoing protests against federal immigration agents. The former president stated on Truth Social that he would implement the rarely used law, which allows the president to deploy the military domestically to quell an insurrection or rebellion, if Minnesota politicians "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."

The threat follows a week of heightened tensions in Minneapolis, sparked by the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good and further inflamed by an incident on Wednesday in which a federal officer shot a man in the leg during an enforcement operation in north Minneapolis. Trump asserted that invoking the act would "quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State."

The Insurrection Act, originally enacted in 1807, grants the president broad authority to use the U.S. military to enforce federal laws within states. Its invocation is typically reserved for situations where state authorities are unable or unwilling to maintain order. The law has been used sparingly throughout history, most recently in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots.

Legal scholars have debated the scope and constitutionality of the Insurrection Act, with some arguing that its broad language could be subject to abuse. Critics of Trump's threat contend that deploying the military against protesters would be a severe overreaction and a violation of civil liberties. Supporters, however, argue that the president has a duty to protect federal property and personnel, and that the Insurrection Act provides a necessary tool to do so in extreme circumstances.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has not yet responded directly to Trump's statement. However, state officials have emphasized their commitment to protecting both the right to protest and the safety of law enforcement officers. The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear whether the Trump administration will take further action to invoke the Insurrection Act. The Department of Justice has not commented on the potential use of the act.