Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, has threatened to activate the Minnesota National Guard in response to a recent incident involving federal law enforcement.
On Wednesday afternoon, Walz issued a “readiness order” for the National Guard after an ICE officer shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis. Earlier that day, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported that a “weapon was used on a vehicle.”
“We have soldiers in training ready to deploy if necessary,” Walz stated, adding that the warning serves to inform the public and emphasize that these National Guard units belong to Minnesota.
“Minnesota will not allow our communities to be used as props in national political battles,” he declared. “We don’t take the bait.”
Walz also warned residents across the country, saying, “To all Americans, whether in Portland, Los Angeles, or Chicago, you might be next.” He encouraged citizens nationwide to “join us in opposing this.”
This announcement followed an incident where individuals attempted to disrupt ICE agents during an operation in Minneapolis, leading to a confrontation in which one person allegedly used their vehicle as a weapon, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The DHS described the incident as an act of domestic terrorism, stating: “A violent insurrectionist brought a weapon into his vehicle and attempted to run over and kill our nation’s law enforcement officers.”
“Fearing for his safety and that of his fellow officers, the ICE officer fired defensively,” the department added.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that the individual involved was struck and died, while the injured ICE officer is expected to recover fully. They also noted a significant rise in attacks against police, with assaults increasing by 1,300% and death threats surging by 8,000%, attributing this to political rhetoric against law enforcement.
“This is an evolving situation, and we will provide more information as it becomes available,” the DHS concluded.
During the press conference, Walz also described protesting against ICE as a “patriotic duty at this time.”
