By Hannah Parry and Amanda Castro
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that President Donald Trump's threats to enact the Insurrection Act in Minnesota “spoke very loud and clear to Democrats across this country.” Leavitt said it send a message to elected officials "who are using their platforms to encourage violence against federal law enforcement officers who are encouraging left-wing agitators to unlawfully obstruct legitimate law enforcement operations."
Meanwhile, Minneapolis officials are calling for calm after a federal immigration officer shot a Venezuelan man, identified as Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, in the leg during an attempted traffic stop on Wednesday night. The shooting, which occurred just 12 miles from where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good last week, prompting mass protests.
What To Know
- Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota on Thursday, floating the first use of the provision in more than three decades.
- Trump wrote on Truth Social, “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 Department of Homeland Security confirmed the shooting of Sosa-Celis occurred shortly before 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
- The agency claimed that an agent was trying to apprehend Sosa-Celis during a targeted traffic stop when they were attacked by two other men wielding a shovel and a broom.
- In a statement, DHS said that Sosa-Celis had joined the men in the attack, so the official responded by shooting him in the leg.
- Sosa-Celis, who has been hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and the other two men have been arrested.
- Tensions in Minneapolis have been high since Good's death on January 7 sparked mass protests. The Trump administration responded by increasing immigration enforcement to 3,000 ICE agents.
- Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the increased ICE presence, saying they are creating "chaos" and warning protesters against “taking the bait.”
Newsweek's live coverage has ended.
...
Jan 15, 2026 at 08:10 PM EST
Minnesota schools offer remote learning amid immigration crackdown
Several of Minnesota’s largest school districts are shifting to temporary online learning options as families grapple with fear and uncertainty during a federal immigration enforcement surge. Minneapolis Public Schools announced students may learn remotely until February 12, while St. Paul schools will begin offering a virtual option next week.
St. Paul Superintendent Stacie Stanley said she received hundreds of requests from families seeking alternatives to in-person classes. The district, home to large immigrant communities, reported sharp absences last week, with half of Spanish-speaking students and a quarter of Somali-speaking students missing school following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
The Trump administration has intensified immigration operations in the Twin Cities, rescinding prior limits on enforcement near “sensitive” sites such as schools. Research shows such raids often drive up student absences, even when they occur off school grounds.
In Fridley, north of Minneapolis, about one-third of students have stayed home this week, prompting officials to prepare a remote option. “Students are terrified to come to school,” Superintendent Brenda Lewis said, underscoring the impact of the crackdown on classrooms across the region.
Would you like me to also condense this into a “What to Know” deck for homepage packaging?
Jan 15, 2026 at 07:58 PM EST
DHS identifies Venezuelan national shot by federal agent in Minneapolis
Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed Thursday that the man shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis was Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national without legal status. Authorities said Sosa-Celis and two other men, also undocumented, assaulted an agent with a shovel and broom during a confrontation before the agent opened fire, striking Sosa-Celis.
Officials did not indicate whether charges had been filed in connection with the incident or if the men had legal representation. The shooting comes amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis following recent immigration enforcement operations and protests against federal agents.
Jan 15, 2026 at 07:44 PM EST
Ellison, Walz urge Minnesotans to document federal abuses amid immigration crackdown
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is urging residents to report potential violations of constitutional rights and other incidents involving federal immigration agents to his office, which has petitioned a judge to halt President Donald Trump’s enforcement surge in the state.
Gov. Tim Walz echoed the call Wednesday night, asking Minnesotans to help officials “create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans,” saying such records could be critical for future prosecutions.
The appeals come as tensions mount over the deployment of thousands of federal agents in Minneapolis and surrounding communities, a crackdown that has sparked protests, lawsuits, and growing concerns about civil rights violations.
Jan 15, 2026 at 07:30 PM EST
WATCH: Trump secretary and reporter clash over ICE conduct
Jan 15, 2026 at 07:16 PM EST
Trump threatens insurrection act as Minneapolis protests escalate after ice shooting
Tensions in Minneapolis intensified this week after another shooting involving federal immigration agents, prompting President Donald Trump to warn he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. troops to Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security said an agent fired “defensive shots” Wednesday, striking a man in the leg after a struggle in which bystanders allegedly attacked the officer with a snow shovel and broom handle.
The incident came just days after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, sparking nationwide protests and a surge of federal agents into the city. Minneapolis leaders have urged calm, but demonstrations outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building have led to arrests as crowds chant against ICE.
Legal battles are also unfolding. The ACLU of Minnesota filed a class-action lawsuit alleging agents violated citizens’ Fourth Amendment rights through racial profiling and unlawful arrests. A judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order in a separate lawsuit filed by state officials seeking to block the federal crackdown.
City Council President Elliott Payne said constitutional rights are being violated, comparing the unrest to the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing. “If you think protection means murdering people and shooting them in the head, then I don’t want that protection from our federal government,” Payne told CNN.
Jan 15, 2026 at 06:55 PM EST
US citizen dragged from car by ICE in Minneapolis speaks out
A U.S. citizen dragged from her car by federal agents in Minneapolis told Newsweek on Thursday that the past few days had been “traumatizing and overwhelming”.
Aliya Rahman was seen on video being pulled from her vehicle by agents after the Department of Homeland Security alleged she impeded them in their work. In the footage, she could be heard screaming that she was trying to get to a doctor's appointment.
“These last few days have been traumatizing and overwhelming,” Rahman told Newsweek. “First and foremost, I feel lucky to be alive. What I thought would be a routine trip to my appointment at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center turned into an assault by federal agents.”
After federal agents descended on the Twin Cities in large numbers, tensions grew between them and locals. Last week, a U.S. citizen was shot dead by an ICE agent in a Minneapolis neighborhood, while a Venezuelan man was shot by a federal agent in the city on Wednesday evening. Agents have also been criticized for aggressive tactics in dealing with protestors, but DHS has said it is the protestors who are being violent towards its agents.
Continue reading: US Citizen Dragged from Car By ICE in Minneapolis Speaks Out
Jan 15, 2026 at 06:40 PM EST
Arrests reported at Minneapolis federal building amid anti-ICE protests
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino said Wednesday that arrests have been made outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, where demonstrators have staged daily protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Bovino did not specify the number of arrests, describing them only as “recent.”
He told Fox News that some protesters had attempted to block roads, making it difficult for federal agents to operate. “If they don’t move, they’re being arrested,” Bovino said.
Video captured by CNN showed more than 100 people gathered outside the building, chanting slogans such as “ICE out now” and “We will not put up with ICE.” Passing drivers honked in support as tensions between federal agents and community members continued to escalate.
Jan 15, 2026 at 06:30 PM EST
Ex-Proud Boys leader responds to claims he joined ICE
Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio told Newsweek exclusively that he is considering legal action against media outlets that published a list naming him as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent as part of an alleged database leak.
"I'm going to take a look at my legal options," Tarrio said, adding that he has been in court on Thursday, dealing with a civil suit against the United States, "in a successful manner," which has encouraged him to consider further actions against media outlets over the alleged leaked list.
"If I'm suing the United States of America, it's very easy for me to sue media outlets that decided to publish this," Tarrio said.
Newsweek reached out to NowThis Impact via email for comment on Thursday afternoon.
Read om full: Ex-Proud Boys Leader Responds to Claims He Joined ICE
Jan 15, 2026 at 06:27 PM EST
Protest planned at Los Angeles home Depot over ICE raids
Community groups in Los Angeles are organizing a protest Sunday, January 18, to demand accountability from Home Depot amid escalating immigration enforcement operations on its properties. The demonstration, set for 2 to 4 p.m. at the Ladera Heights store, is led by Culver City and Friends Rising (CCAFR) and Show Up Culver City.
Organizers say ICE raids at Home Depot locations have targeted immigrant workers with racial profiling, harassment, and violence. The raids have resulted in detentions and, in some cases, deaths — including Carlos Roberto Montoya, who died last August while fleeing an operation in Monrovia.
Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, urged Home Depot to condemn ICE actions and create safe spaces for workers. “Silence is not neutrality,” he said.
The protest will include an “Ice Scraper buy-in,” where participants purchase and return scrapers as a symbolic call for justice. Organizers say the action honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of social justice and aims to protect immigrant workers from further harm.
Jan 15, 2026 at 06:12 PM EST
DHS responds after ICE drags woman shouting ‘I’m disabled’ from car
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has responded after a video showing a woman being dragged from her car by federal agents during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minneapolis went viral.
The clash unfolded near the intersection of 34th Street and Park Avenue, close to where Renee Nicole Good, 37, was fatally shot by an ICE agent, an incident that had already prompted protests and increased tensions in the area. Local and federal officials have presented conflicting accounts, with federal authorities and the administration characterizing the use of force as self-defense, while critics challenge that version. Each side has cited separate video angles from the incident to bolster its claims.
Video from the scene shows several federal agents, some wearing masks, sunglasses, and protective vests, confronting a woman sat in a car on a residential street. Agents reach through the driver’s side window before opening the door and pulling her onto the ground.
Read in full: DHS Responds After ICE Drags Woman Shouting ‘I’m Disabled’ From Car
Jan 15, 2026 at 05:59 PM EST
When can ICE agents use force?
Federal agents are bound by the same constitutional standards on use of force as state and local police, with deadly force permitted only when there is an imminent threat of serious injury or death. Legal experts note that courts often defer to officers’ perceptions, though video evidence is increasingly used to assess whether actions meet the high threshold.
Department of Homeland Security policy requires force to be “objectively reasonable” and limits deadly force to situations where officers reasonably believe lives are at risk. The rules explicitly prohibit using deadly force solely to stop a fleeing suspect unless a significant threat exists.
The fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis has raised questions about whether those standards are being enforced. Advocates argue Good did not pose a serious threat, calling the incident an “extrajudicial state killing.” Reports show immigration agents have fired at or into civilian vehicles at least 13 times since July, often justifying their actions by claiming cars were used as weapons, even when evidence contradicted those accounts.
Jan 15, 2026 at 05:52 PM EST
WATCH: ICE shoots second person in Minneapolis in as many weeks: What to know
Jan 15, 2026 at 05:45 PM EST
Poll shows Americans divided on Trump’s deportation policies
Americans hold mixed views on President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, according to an October 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center. The poll found that just over half of respondents believe some level of deportation is necessary, a figure consistent with earlier results.
At the same time, concerns about the administration’s methods remain widespread. A majority of U.S. adults — 53% — said Trump’s team is doing “too much” to deport undocumented immigrants, while 36% supported the approach.
Jan 15, 2026 at 05:40 PM EST
Illinois AG and Minnesota AG ‘prepared’ for Trump to carry out Insurrection Act
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said on Thursday that both he, and Minnesota AG Keith Ellison are “prepared” if President Donald Trump follows through with his threats to carry out the Insurrection Act:
"Well, his threats with regards to the Insurrection Act are not new. He’s done so before with regards to California, Illinois," Raoul said on CNN Central News.
"And so, you never know what is true with regards to the president’s threats. However, he has carried out some unconstitutional acts consistently over the past year. And so, whatever he does, whether he tries to follow through on that, we are prepared. And I’m sure my colleague, General Ellison in Minnesota, is prepared to respond.”
Jan 15, 2026 at 05:28 PM EST
Communities push back as ice operations spark violence and lawsuits
Across the United States, communities have increasingly resisted immigration enforcement operations, with residents often filming ICE agents during arrests. Some encounters have turned violent, prompting legal challenges and public outcry.
In Chicago, a coalition of media outlets sued the Border Patrol, alleging excessive force against journalists, clergy, and protesters. While a federal judge initially sided with the group, an appeals court later overturned the ruling.
The controversy has deepened in Minneapolis, where protests erupted after the fatal shooting of Renee Good. Days later, an ICE officer shot a Venezuelan man in the leg during what DHS described as a “targeted traffic stop.” Similar incidents occurred in Los Angeles last October, when agents fired at drivers they said threatened officers with vehicles.
ICE agents have also faced criticism for wearing masks during operations. DHS officials defend the practice, arguing it shields officers from harassment and online targeting, but critics say it heightens tensions between agents and the communities they police.
Jan 15, 2026 at 05:14 PM EST
Trump administration reports 2.5 million deportations and self-deportations in 2025
The Trump administration says it deported 605,000 people between January 20 and December 10, 2025, while another 1.9 million immigrants “voluntarily self-deported” after a public awareness campaign urging them to leave the country to avoid arrest or detention.
Immigrants who encounter ICE face varied outcomes. Some are briefly held and released after questioning, while others are transferred to larger detention facilities across the U.S. Many pursue legal challenges while detained, but unsuccessful cases often end in deportation.
As of November 30, 2025, roughly 65,000 people were in ICE custody, according to data compiled by Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Immigration lawyers note that once ICE detains an individual, the process can be difficult to fight, underscoring the scale and impact of the administration’s enforcement drive.
Jan 15, 2026 at 05:05 PM EST
Minneapolis councilwoman calls on Gov. Walz to ‘demonstrate an ounce of courage’
Minneapolis City Councilwoman Robin Wonsley has called on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to "demonstrate an ounce of courage" in the face of President Donald Trump's threats to use the Insurrection Act in the state.
Wonsley told CNN News Central, on Thursday, that she wasn't surprised by the president's threats, because Trump had been trying to "normalize using his administrative powers to go to war with local cities who do not fall in alignment with his administration’s political goals, which is to divide people, terrorize people, keep people in poverty, deprive working class people of their basic needs, and also their civil liberties."
The councilwoman said Minneapolis had become the testing ground for such attempts to normalize what she called "very terroristic actions."
Wonsley said that strongly worded statements or letters to the administration were not enough.
"We need an eviction moratorium right now, today. And Governor Walz needs to declare that as one of the first measures we can do to protect our residents here," she demanded. "We need the governor to also demonstrate an ounce of courage in this moment and make sure people can shelter in place as a protective measure. Residents are demonstrating a huge amount of courage right now. And it’s not being matched by our elected officials to do everything we can to get ICE out of our community.”
Jan 15, 2026 at 04:58 PM EST
Where ICE operates
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which typically operates inside the United States, has seen its role increasingly overlap with that of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the Trump administration. Border Patrol officers, traditionally tasked with guarding the nation’s borders, are now joining ICE in domestic raids and enforcement actions.
Federal officials confirmed that as of January 14, roughly 2,000 ICE and other federal agents were deployed to Minneapolis, alongside an additional 800 Border Patrol officers. Similar surges have taken place in cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago, reflecting a broader strategy of pooling federal law enforcement resources for immigration crackdowns.
Jan 15, 2026 at 04:43 PM EST
ICE use of force under scrutiny after Minneapolis shooting
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of force is governed by the U.S. Constitution, federal law, and Department of Homeland Security guidelines. Legal experts note that deadly force is permitted only when a person poses a serious danger or has committed a violent crime, though the Supreme Court has historically granted officers wide discretion in split-second decisions.
A DHS memo issued in 2023 reiterates that federal officers may use deadly force only when they reasonably believe a subject poses an imminent threat of death or serious injury.
The framework has come under sharp focus in Minneapolis, where U.S. citizen Renee Good was shot and killed while sitting in her car. The Trump administration has defended the agent’s actions as self-defense, but local officials argue she posed no danger. The incident sparked a political clash, with Minnesota leaders filing suit to block further deployment of federal immigration agents in the state.
Jan 15, 2026 at 04:37 PM EST
Republican lawmaker blames Minneapolis sanctuary city status for multiple ICE shootings
Florida Republican Rep. Mike Haridopolos has blamed Minneapolis’ sanctuary city status and its leadership what he called the "tragic situation" in the city, amid multiple shootings by ICE.
"We have sanctuary cities right now that allow these criminals to run in the streets," he said on CNN Central News on Thursday.
"And the goal should be to extract them. This is the same thing done under Republican and Democrat prior administrations. But you have these issues where you have a mayor who is so politically, let’s just say, involved, that he thinks it’s a good idea to put these folks in the middle of all this.”
He added that local government, law enforcement, and the mayor had failed because they "won’t enforce the law and keep criminals behind bars because of the political agenda."
"I hope the mayor does take a different tact, so we don’t have this type of chaos in the streets. But where I want to see the focus, and I know that we’ve talked about it as a caucus, we want to focus it on, let’s get rid of the violent criminals who come to this country. I think that that’s where the focus should be.”
Jan 15, 2026 at 04:28 PM EST
What authority does ICE have?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) describes its mission as safeguarding both public safety and national security, but its authority differs from that of local police. Agents can stop, detain and arrest individuals suspected of being in the country illegally, though entering homes or private spaces requires a judicial warrant.
ICE may detain U.S. citizens in limited circumstances, such as interfering with arrests or assaulting officers. However, watchdog reporting has raised concerns about overreach. According to ProPublica, federal agents detained U.S. citizens in more than 170 incidents during the first nine months of President Donald Trump’s term, often mistaking them for undocumented immigrants.
Jan 15, 2026 at 04:12 PM EST
When was ICE formed?
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiative, a central pledge of his election campaign. Since returning to office, Trump has significantly expanded the agency’s budget and mission, positioning ICE as the lead enforcer of immigration laws and removals of undocumented immigrants.
ICE, created under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 in response to the September 11 attacks, operates as a subsidiary of the Department of Homeland Security. Its responsibilities include investigating undocumented immigration and carrying out deportations, a role that has grown under Trump’s administration as part of his broader crackdown on immigration.
Jan 15, 2026 at 03:52 PM EST
WATCH: Moment anti-ICE protester smashes car in Minneapolis after second shooting
Jan 15, 2026 at 03:40 PM EST
Tim Walz makes direct appeal to Trump to ‘stop this campaign of retribution’
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has put out a direct appeal to President Donald Trump to "turn the temperature down" and "stop this campaign of retribution."
Walz also had a message for Minnesotans during this "scary" time, after ICE agents shot a second person in Minneapolis in as many weeks, while ramping up its immigration crackdown in the city.
"I know this is scary. We can - we must - speak out loud, urgently, but also peacefully. We cannot fan the flames of chaos. That's what he wants."
The post, shared on X on Thursday, echoes comments the governor made last night in the hours after the shooting when he told his constituents, ": Donald Trump wants this chaos. He wants confusion. And, yes, he wants more violence on our streets. We cannot give him what he wants. We can—we must—protest: loudly, urgently, but also peacefully. Indeed, as hard as we will fight in the courts and at the ballot box, we cannot, and will not, let violence prevail."
Jan 15, 2026 at 03:26 PM EST
Bondi says she fired six Minnesota prosecutors after resignation attempt
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday night that she dismissed six prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota after they attempted to resign. Speaking on Fox News, Bondi said the group “suddenly decided they didn’t want to support the men and women in ICE.”
The prosecutors had reportedly sought to step down over concerns about the Justice Department’s handling of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an immigration officer. Bondi claimed they asked to use accrued leave until April, which she described as an attempt to have taxpayers “pay for them to go on vacation.”
“Breaking news tonight, I fired them all,” Bondi said.
Jan 15, 2026 at 03:18 PM EST
Minneapolis video captures aftermath of latest ICE shooting
A video circulating on social media captured the chaotic aftermath of a federal enforcement operation on Wednesday evening in Minneapolis, where a man was shot in the leg by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, according to authorities and local officials.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan man in the leg during a targeted enforcement action. The agency said the incident began with a traffic stop. The man, who DHS said entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2022, fled the scene, crashed his vehicle and ran on foot.
The video of the aftermath shows people inside a home speaking in Spanish to emergency dispatchers. Several voices can be heard pleading for help and saying a man had been shot. The footage, taken from inside the residence, also shows red and blue lights from emergency vehicles outside. At least two young children appear in the video.
"Please help us. We have children! I have a baby. We have a little boy in the house," an individual is heard saying.
"My husband was being chased for about half an hour, and they were trying to hit him. He came home, and when we closed the door, they shot him. They were far away from us," a woman is heard saying.
Another voice said federal agents were trying to enter the property. The video does not clearly show the wounded man.
"Tell them they shot the door," another woman says. "Son, come. Son, come."
Jan 15, 2026 at 03:10 PM EST
WATCH: Trump threatens Minnesota with the Insurrection Act: What we know
Jan 15, 2026 at 02:54 PM EST
Minneapolis council member urges eviction moratorium amid ICE crackdown
Minneapolis City Council member Robin Wonsley criticized local and state leaders Thursday, saying they have failed to adequately protect residents during the federal immigration enforcement surge. Speaking to CNN, Wonsley called on Gov. Tim Walz to “demonstrate an ounce of courage” by declaring an eviction moratorium, allowing residents to shelter in place while ICE agents remain active in the community.
“Elected officials, like myself, need to be doing everything we can to get ICE out of Minneapolis, ICE out of Minnesota,” Wonsley said, adding that statements alone are insufficient. She praised residents for showing courage in continuing protests but argued that elected leaders have not matched that resolve.
“If elected leaders are not going to show up in this moment to protect and care for our neighbors — we will,” she said.
Jan 15, 2026 at 02:46 PM EST
When was the Insurrection Act last invoked?
The most recent use of the Insurrection Act was in 1992, when former President George H. W. Bush invoked it after four Los Angeles police officers were acquitted for beating Black motorist Rodney King, setting off days of unrest.
Jan 15, 2026 at 02:38 PM EST
Has the Insurrection Act been invoked?
The Insurrection Act has been invoked numerous times throughout American history. The first formal use of the act occurred in 1808, when President Thomas Jefferson invoked the act to address violations of the Embargo Act around Lake Champlain. It was later used by President Andrew Jackson in 1831 during Nat Turner’s Rebellion, a protest over slavery in Virginia.
President Abraham Lincoln invoked the Insurrection Act in 1861 as several southern states seceded from the U.S. at the beginning of the Civil War. It was later used during the Reconstruction era.
Among the more notable uses was when President John F. Kennedy invoked the act for the purpose of integrating schools in Alabama and Mississippi. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson federalized the Alabama National Guard to protect civil rights protesters traveling from Selma to Montgomery.
Jan 15, 2026 at 02:30 PM EST
What is the Insurrection Act?
The Insurrection Act, first passed in 1792, gives the president authority to call the U.S. military for domestic use. It has been used numerous times throughout history, including during the Civil Rights era, to assist with school integration.
The Insurrection Act contains several provisions passed by Congress between 1792 and 1871, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. It refers to Sections 251 through 255 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code.
“Whenever there is an insurrection in any State against its government, the President may, upon the request of its legislature or of its governor if the legislature cannot be convened, call into Federal service such of the militia of the other States, in the number requested by that State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary to suppress the insurrection,” Section 251 reads.
The president would have fairly broad authority under the law, Gene Rossi, a former federal prosecutor, told Newsweek on Thursday.
“The punchline is this. Under the Insurrection Act, President Trump and any president has broad power to invoke that act, which is an extraordinary step,” he said. “What it means is that the president can employ active duty soldiers to assist state and local authorities in executing the federal laws.”
In Minnesota, ICE is “executing, in their mind, the immigration laws in terms of arresting and detaining people who are here without proper documentation,” Rossi said. Trump would have broad authority to determine whether laws cannot be effectively executed without invoking the Insurrection Act, he said.
Courts have historically been inclined to give presidents deference on the Insurrection Act, but they could still determine whether the president acted in bad faith or whether his actions were based on mistake or that its execution resulted in the violation of constitutional rights, he said.
“Court can still look at that aspect of the president’s invocation of the act, but it’s still a tough row to hoe for people challenging his decision,” he said.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek that a legal challenge to an invocation would be likely, but that it would face an uphill challenge. They would likely raise arguments that it violates the Posse Comitatus Act. They could argue there is unlawful because there is no rebellion that state and local authorities cannot handle.
But as long as there is unrest and people being shot, that would be enough of a legal basis, he said.
"It will be politically very unpopular. I think military don't like to engage in these kinds of operations on American soil, but I don't think the courts are going to step in and stop it," he said.
Jan 15, 2026 at 02:13 PM EST
Dallas man charged with assaulting ICE agents after December incident
A federal grand jury in Texas has indicted Jerson Lopez-Sanchez on three counts of assaulting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers following a December confrontation in Dallas.
Authorities allege Lopez-Sanchez used a truck loaded with heavy equipment to ram ICE vehicles during a Dec. 1 arrest attempt. The indictment, filed in the Eastern District of Texas, states he remains at large and has not turned himself in. Officials also noted he is in the United States illegally.
The charges stem from what ICE described as a “routine check” on a Chevrolet Silverado Lopez-Sanchez was driving when the incident escalated.
Jan 15, 2026 at 01:49 PM EST
Thune downplays Trump’s Insurrection Act threat as DHS funding looms
Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Thursday sought to temper President Donald Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota amid protests over ICE operations, saying he hoped federal, state and local officials could restore calm. “Hopefully the local officials, working with not only the federal law enforcement, ICE and other agencies, but also the local law enforcement officials will be able to settle things down,” Thune told reporters.
The Republican leader acknowledged challenges in passing a Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, noting Democratic demands to rein in ICE. He suggested a continuing resolution may be needed to keep DHS funded and avoid a government shutdown at month’s end.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, backed Trump’s warning, telling CNN that Minnesota was “out of control” and accusing local leaders of encouraging violence. Johnson said the president’s frustration would not jeopardize passage of the Pentagon’s funding bill.
Jan 15, 2026 at 01:35 PM EST
Six Minnesota prosecutors resign over Justice Department’s handling of ice shooting
Six senior federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned Tuesday amid growing tensions over the Justice Department’s response to the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good by an ICE agent. Among those stepping down was Joseph H. Thompson, the deputy U.S. attorney who led a sweeping fraud investigation tied to safety net programs.
Thompson objected to department directives to investigate Good’s widow, Becca, while refusing to probe the agent involved in the shooting. His departure, along with those of Harry Jacobs, Melinda Williams and Thomas Calhoun-Lopez, marks a major setback for ongoing fraud cases that have roiled Minnesota politics.
Local officials warned the resignations undermine public trust, noting the Justice Department’s decision not to pursue a civil rights inquiry into the shooting. Instead, federal officials launched an investigation into Good’s ties to activist groups, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeling her a “domestic terrorist.”
The resignations come as Minnesota faces the largest immigration enforcement surge in its history, with 2,000 federal agents deployed. State leaders, including Attorney General Keith Ellison and Gov. Tim Walz, have condemned the crackdown, citing civil rights violations and warning of unrest reminiscent of the George Floyd protests.
Jan 15, 2026 at 01:19 PM EST
North Minneapolis community rallies after ICE shooting
In North Minneapolis, residents awoke Thursday to a calm morning that belied the chaos of the night before, when clashes erupted following the shooting of a man by federal immigration agents. Children boarded school buses at intersections where tensions had flared only hours earlier, and city crews had cleared most of the debris from the streets.
At Farview Park, just north of the shooting site, melted snow revealed patches of soil on the neighborhood’s sledding hill, a reminder of the community’s everyday rhythms amid unrest. The area, separated from much of Minneapolis by highways, carries the feel of a small rust-belt town rather than the city’s more affluent southern neighborhoods.
Residents showed solidarity late into the night, standing guard outside a local Taco Bell where many employees are immigrants and Spanish speakers. Neighbors rotated shifts until 2 a.m., braving the cold with mylar blankets and hand warmers to protect staff as ICE vehicles came and went.
Jan 15, 2026 at 01:00 PM EST
Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act in Minnesota
President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota amid protests over U.S. Immigration and Enforcement (ICE) operations, floating the first use of the provision in more than three decades.
Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday morning, “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."
ICE is facing growing scrutiny over its tactics following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother, on January 7 and the shooting of a migrant on January 14 in Minneapolis. There have been growing protests over the agency and the administration’s heightened immigration enforcement, which was a cornerstone of the president’s campaign in 2024.
The Insurrection Act has not been used for decades, but Trump suggested in a post to Truth Social that he could use it to quell protests in Minneapolis. Minnesota officials have said ICE should depart Minneapolis and that they are responsible for increasing tensions in the city. Trump has floated using the Insurrection Act several times following his return to the White House last January.
Jan 15, 2026 at 12:59 PM EST
ACLU of Minnesota files class action over ICE operations
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota announced Thursday that it has filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that federal immigration officers violated the rights of Minnesotans during recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
The suit follows protests in the Twin Cities after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by a federal officer last week and another shooting days later. ACLU MN Executive Director Deepinder Mayell said the actions reflect a “broader pattern” of unconstitutional conduct documented in multiple cases since November.
Filed in federal district court, the complaint details accounts from three U.S. citizens who say they were unlawfully detained. One plaintiff, Mubashir Khalif Hussen, said masked ICE agents ignored his identification and shackled him before releasing him only after he produced a passport card. Another man and his mother reported being detained while shoveling snow, while a third plaintiff said he was tackled and handcuffed at work before being abandoned in a Walmart parking lot.
Staff attorney Catherine Ahlin-Halverson said the lawsuit highlights systemic violations against people perceived to be Somali or Latino, adding that ICE and other federal agencies are “violating the most basic limits our Constitution places on law enforcement.”
Jan 15, 2026 at 12:32 PM EST
Trump admin IDs men who allegedly assaulted ICE agents in Minneapolis
Federal immigration officials on Thursday identified Julio Cesar Sosa‑Celis, Alfredo Alejandro Ajorna and Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez‑Ledezma as the three men accused of attacking an ICE officer during an attempted arrest in Minneapolis.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a press release that agents were trying to detain Sosa‑Celis when he fled a traffic stop, resisted arrest and was joined by Ajorna and Hernandez‑Ledezma, who allegedly struck the officer with a shovel and broom handle. The officer fired once, hitting Sosa‑Celis in the leg, before all three retreated into a nearby apartment and were later taken into custody.
Both the officer and Sosa‑Celis were hospitalized as the incident reignited tensions over local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Read in full: Trump Admin IDs Men Who Allegedly Assaulted ICE Agents in Minneapolis
Jan 15, 2026 at 12:26 PM EST
Blanche blames Democrat leaders in Minnesota for latest ICE shooting
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has attempted to blame Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the latest shooting of an individual in Minneapolis.
"ICE operates in thousands of counties without incident," Blanche said after an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan man in the leg during a traffic stop. The shooting came just one week after another immigration official shot and killed mother-of-three Renee Nicole Good in the city.
"Men and women doing their jobs, protecting us from criminal aliens. Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. It’s disgusting. Walz and Frey - I’m focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It’s a promise."
Jan 15, 2026 at 12:19 PM EST
Dramatic images show aftermath of protests following latest ICE shooting
Dramatic images of Minneapolis in the aftermath of the shooting on Wednesday night, show the billowing smoke and din of exploding tear gas canisters as frightened residents and protesters scrambled on city streets
...
...
...
Jan 15, 2026 at 12:07 PM EST
Kristi Noem claims officer was ‘fearing for his life’ when he shot Venezuelan man
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has claimed that the federal immigration officer was "fearing for his life" when he opened fire on a Venezuelan man during a traffic stop.
"What we saw last night in Minneapolis was an attempted murder of federal law enforcement," Noem said on X on Thursday.
"Our officer was ambushed and attacked by three individuals who beat him with snow shovels and the handles of brooms. Fearing for his life, the officer fired a defensive shot."
Noem also criticized Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who have condemned the heavy ICE presence in Minneapolis, and their killing of mother-of-three Renee Nicole Good.
"Mayor Frey and Governor Walz have to get their city under control. They are encouraging impeding and assault against our law enforcement which is a federal crime, a felony. This is putting the people of Minnesota in harm’s way," Noem added.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines