President Donald Trump warned this week that he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. military forces into Minnesota as violent protests intensify around federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. The warning marks a sharp escalation as clashes between demonstrators and federal agents continue to spread across the city.

The Insurrection Act allows a president to deploy troops domestically to restore order during civil unrest. First enacted in the early 19th century, it has been used sparingly, most recently by President George H.W. Bush during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Trump’s remarks come amid mounting unrest following a deadly encounter between an ICE officer and a Minneapolis resident.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump blamed Minnesota’s political leadership for failing to rein in what he described as organized agitators. He said that if state and local officials do not act, he is prepared to use federal authority to protect immigration officers. Trump argued that previous presidents have used the law decisively to quell disorder and suggested Minnesota now faces a similar moment.

The warning followed another confrontation Wednesday night, when the Department of Homeland Security said a Venezuelan man allegedly attacked a federal immigration officer during a traffic stop. DHS reported that two individuals used a broomstick and a snow shovel to assault the agent as he attempted to take the suspect into custody.

Protests have escalated since the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good during an ICE enforcement action. Federal officials say the operation represents the largest immigration enforcement surge in the region’s history, with thousands of agents deployed to the Twin Cities. Nightly standoffs have included the use of tear gas and flash-bang grenades by officers, while demonstrators have thrown fireworks and other objects and attempted to block arrests.

Local and state leaders have sharply criticized the federal response. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the situation “not sustainable,” and Gov. Tim Walz labeled the operation an “occupation.” Federal officials pushed back, accusing Minnesota leaders of inflaming tensions. While Trump has not said whether he would federalize the National Guard or deploy active-duty troops, the White House continues to defend the ICE actions as necessary to dismantle criminal networks tied to fraud, trafficking, and illegal immigration.