Protests erupted in Minneapolis following the deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Good by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, prompting several Republican lawmakers to engage with President Donald Trump regarding the use of the Insurrection Act.
This Act, established in 1807, was last utilized in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots that followed the acquittal of LAPD officers in the Rodney King case.
If invoked, the Insurrection Act would permit Trump to send active-duty military or federal National Guard troops to restore order, temporarily suspending restrictions under the Posse Comitatus Act that usually limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
Some Republicans are hesitant about the prospect of invoking this historical law in response to Good’s shooting. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed faith in local police managing the situation effectively. “We hope that federal and local law enforcement can collaboratively resolve these issues,” he commented.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker raised doubts about the appropriateness of invoking such a law, while Alabama Senator Lisa Murkowski cautioned that the administration should tread carefully.
Murkowski reflected on the shooting as resonant of the unrest during the George Floyd protests in 2020, which occurred amid the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She warned against escalating tensions, stating, “Everything was so tenuous and volatile, and we don’t need that.”
President Trump issued a stern warning, suggesting he might invoke the Insurrection Act if attacks on federal officers continue in Minnesota. He characterized the situation as a plight of “corrupt politicians” neglecting the law, further inflaming the unrest.
In his attempt to lower the agitation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged residents to appease the situation, emphasizing, “Let’s stop this campaign of revenge.” He encouraged them to voice their concerns peacefully.
Walz’s remarks were countered by White House press secretary Abigail Jackson, who accused Minnesota’s Democratic leaders of exacerbating the conflict and supporting illegal activities, criticizing Walz for his previous comments regarding ICE agents.
