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The Insurrection Act is a rarely-used federal law allowing the president to deploy military in U.S. cities to quell unrest.
President Donald Trump issued a stern warning via Truth Social, threatening to deploy the Insurrection Act in Minnesota. He accused 'corrupt politicians' of failing to stop 'professional agitators and insurrectionists' from 'attacking the Patriots of I.C.E.' Trump emphasized that invoking this act, which allows the president to deploy military forces domestically, would swiftly end what he called a 'travesty' in the state. This threat underscores his willingness to use federal power to quell perceived civil disturbances and enforce immigration policies, even if it means overriding local authority.
The president's threat comes amidst escalating anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities. These demonstrations intensified following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent, which Trump administration officials deemed justified, claiming she 'weaponized' her vehicle. Further fuel was added to the protests after another ICE officer in Minneapolis shot a migrant in the leg during an attempted arrest, which the administration described as an altercation where the officer was attacked. These incidents have sparked widespread outrage and fueled the ongoing unrest against federal immigration enforcement actions.
The Trump administration has significantly increased the federal presence in Minneapolis, deploying thousands of ICE and Border Patrol officers. This large-scale deployment is framed by the administration as an effort to combat fraud by Somali immigrants and deport 'the worst of the worst.' However, critics, including state and local officials, have vehemently denounced this federal presence as an 'occupation.' They accuse President Trump of deliberately provoking and escalating the situation to create a pretext for a more severe crackdown, potentially involving the military, viewing the aggressive tactics and unmarked vehicles used by federal agents as racial profiling and an infringement on local autonomy.
The Insurrection Act of 1807 is a federal law enabling the president to use active-duty military or federalize National Guard troops to suppress civil disturbances. Despite Trump's claim that 'many' presidents have used it, its invocation has been rare in the last century. The most recent uses include George H.W. Bush deploying troops to Los Angeles in 1992 during the Rodney King riots and in 1989 after Hurricane Hugo in the US Virgin Islands. Earlier, President Lyndon Johnson used it during the 1967 Detroit riots, and Presidents John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower deployed it without state consent to protect students during school desegregation in Mississippi and Arkansas. Historically, the act has been invoked sparingly and often at the request or with the consent of state authorities, a contrast to Trump's more assertive and unilateral approach.
President Trump's current threats regarding the Insurrection Act are consistent with his past inclinations, particularly during racial justice protests in his first term. Following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, Trump reportedly mused to aides about violently suppressing protesters. Journalist Michael Bender's book 'Frankly, We Did Win This Election' revealed Trump's desire for troops to 'beat the f**k out' of protesters and 'crack skulls.' He even suggested to top military and law enforcement officials that National Guard soldiers should 'just shoot' protesters, later 'moderating' his suggestion to 'shoot them in the leg — or maybe the foot.' Since then, he has consistently threatened to use the Act in other Democratic-led cities like Los Angeles, Portland, and Chicago.
Following Trump’s social media post, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressed reporters at the White House. While she confirmed discussing the Insurrection Act with the president, she refrained from labeling the Minneapolis unrest as an 'insurrection,' instead describing it as 'violent violation of the law in many places.' Noem affirmed that Trump possesses the 'constitutional authority' to invoke the law, but stated she had not explicitly recommended its use. She expressed hope that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis officials would cooperate with federal efforts to 'get criminals off the streets,' emphasizing continued federal operations with necessary resources in Minneapolis.