Tensions escalated in Minneapolis as protests over ICE enforcement actions continued, prompting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to mobilize the state National Guard to support local law enforcement.
Protesters gathered in subfreezing temperatures Saturday in downtown Minneapolis and near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, chanting and holding signs. Federal officers in riot gear faced demonstrators, with some arrests reported, though the protests largely remained peaceful.
A smaller, far-right group supporting ICE also staged a protest near City Hall but was outnumbered and eventually dispersed. Authorities urged demonstrators to remain calm and peaceful.
The National Guard is staged and ready to assist the Minnesota State Patrol, providing traffic support, protecting life and property, and helping uphold citizens’ right to assemble peacefully. At this time, Guard troops have not been deployed to city streets.
The demonstrations intensified after ICE agent Renee Good was fatally shot, sparking nationwide outrage over federal immigration enforcement tactics. Another federal agent recently shot a Venezuelan man, further fueling public protests.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction restricting ICE agents from using certain crowd-control measures against peaceful protesters or making arrests without clear justification. The ruling applies only to agents involved in the current operation in Minnesota.
Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are reportedly under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential obstruction of federal law enforcement. Both leaders deny wrongdoing, calling the investigation politically motivated.
Protests have seen confrontations with federal officers deploying tear gas and nonlethal munitions. A Minnesota family, including a six-month-old infant, was hospitalized after tear gas affected them while driving near a protest.
Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. troops to Minnesota but stated there is no need to do so at present. FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche visited Minneapolis amid the ongoing tensions.
The National Guard’s presence is intended to support law enforcement and ensure safety while protecting the rights of Minnesotans to assemble peacefully. Officials continue to call for calm and adherence to the law during the protests.
This situation reflects ongoing tensions between federal immigration operations and local authorities in Minneapolis, with the National Guard serving as a precautionary measure to prevent escalation and safeguard public safety.