Minneapolis Braces for More Unrest as ICE Shootings Fuel Protests and Federal Threats
Another person is shot by federal agents as President Trump signals possible military intervention, deepening fears of unchecked power and eroding civil liberties.
As darkness settles over Minneapolis, the city remains on edge. Protests continue to swell as residents confront federal immigration agents in the wake of deadly and violent encounters that have pushed the community to a breaking point.
It has been more than a week since 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent, a killing that ignited public outrage and set off sustained demonstrations across the city. Despite repeated calls from local leaders for calm, tensions escalated again after another ICE agent opened fire — deepening fears that federal enforcement is operating with little restraint and even less accountability.
Now, the situation has drawn the direct attention of President Donald Trump, who is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, a centuries-old law that would allow U.S. troops to be deployed on American streets. The warning signals a dramatic escalation — one that many fear would further inflame unrest rather than contain it.
What’s Happening Now
Another shooting by federal agents:
Late last night, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national, was shot and wounded by an ICE agent after allegedly resisting arrest. Federal officials claim the agent acted after being assaulted, though the shooting has only intensified questions about the use of force by immigration authorities. Two other Venezuelan nationals were also detained during the incident.
Crackdowns on protesters:
Arrests have mounted as demonstrations continue. Protesters were taken into custody during a daytime protest at a federal building, and authorities report that an armed individual was arrested after a confrontation with officers the night before. The increased police presence has done little to ease tensions and has instead fueled claims of intimidation and suppression.
A threat of military force:
Trump’s renewed threat to invoke the Insurrection Act has drawn fierce backlash. The law would permit the federal government to deploy troops domestically, a move critics say would amount to militarizing dissent. The threat alone has sent shockwaves through communities already grappling with fear and anger.
Legal resistance grows:
Civil liberties advocates are pushing back. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota has condemned the administration’s rhetoric as reckless and dangerous, while filing a class-action lawsuit accusing federal immigration agents of violating constitutional protections during enforcement operations.
Fear spreads through the Twin Cities:
The unrest is no longer confined to protest sites. In St. Paul, federal agents stopped vans carrying students and school staff in separate incidents this week, triggering widespread concern among families. School officials have since announced that students who feel unsafe will be allowed to shift to virtual learning, underscoring how deeply the crisis is disrupting daily life.