Extract from ABC News
Protests against a federal immigration crackdown are continuing in Minneapolis. (AP: John Locher)
In short:
US President Donald Trump says he could invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops to the US city of Minneapolis as protests against his administration's immigration crackdown roil the city.
Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good on January 7, a second shooting involving federal law enforcement on Wednesday evening has further heightened tensions.
The Department of Homeland Security says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December.
Donald Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops to quell persistent protests against the federal officers sent to the US city of Minneapolis to enforce his administration's massive immigration crackdown.
The US president's threat came a day after a federal immigration officer shot and wounded a Minneapolis man who had attacked the officer with a shovel and broom handle.
That shooting further heightened the fear and anger radiating across the Minnesota city since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot a Renee Good in the head last week.
Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the rarely-used federal law to deploy the US military or federalise the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, over the objections of state governors.
President Donald Trump says he could be prepared to invoke the Insurrection Act. (AP: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
"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," Mr Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
In response, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz posted on X appealing to the president to "turn the temperature down".
He also urged Minnesota residents to speak out "loudly, urgently, but also peacefully".
"We cannot fan the flames of chaos. That's what he wants."
Presidents have invoked the Insurrection Act more than two dozen times in the past. The most recent example was in 1992 when President George H.W. Bush used it to end unrest in Los Angeles.
In that instance, local authorities had asked for the assistance.
The US president is accusing politicians in Minnesota of encouraging protests against his immigration crackdown. (Truth Social/@realdonaldtrump)
The Associated Press has reached out to the offices of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for comment.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December and is vowing to not back down. ICE is a DHS agency.
Also on Thursday, the deputy director of ICE Madison Sheahan announced on social media that she was leaving the agency.
The 28-year-old started at the agency early last year and US media reported she planned to run for US Congress.
Protests, tear gas and another shooting
In Minneapolis, smoke filled the streets on Wednesday night, local time, near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd.
Protesters responded by throwing rocks and shooting fireworks.
Tear gas was fired at Minnesota protesters on Wednesday night, local time, as demonstrations continued. (AP: John Locher)
Police Chief Brian O'Hara said during a news conference that the gathering was an unlawful assembly and "people need to leave."
Things later quietened down and by early Thursday only a few demonstrators and law enforcement officers remained at the scene.
Demonstrations have become common on the streets of Minneapolis since the ICE agent fatally shot Ms Good, 37, on January 7.
Agents have yanked people from their cars and homes, and have been confronted by angry bystanders demanding that the officers pack up and leave.
"This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbours, to maintain order," Mr Frey, the mayor, said.
Mr Frey said the federal force — five times the size of the city's 600-officer police force — has "invaded" Minneapolis, scaring and angering residents.
Shooting followed a chase
In a statement describing the events that led to Wednesday's shooting, Homeland Security said federal law enforcement officers stopped a driver from Venezuela who is in the US illegally.
The person drove away and crashed into a parked car before taking off on foot, DHS said.
After officers reached the person, two other people arrived from a nearby apartment and all three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.
"Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life," DHS said.
The two people who came out of the apartment are in custody, it said.
Mr O'Hara said the man shot was in the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.
The shooting took place about 7 kilometres north of where Ms Good was killed.
Mr O'Hara's account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security.
During a speech before the latest shooting, Mr Walz described Minnesota as being in chaos, saying what's happening in the state "defies belief."
"Let's be very, very clear, this long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement," he said.
"Instead, it's a campaign of organised brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government."
AP
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