Minneapolis is in chaos. The city, courtesy of a whole network of far-left activist groups stirring up trouble and intentionally impeding federal immigration authorities with the encouragement and assistance of Democrat city and state leaders, has become a frozen version of its lawless and deranged 2020 “Summer of Love” self.
It may be even worse this time, with tensions rising yet again following the death of another activist on Saturday. While details are still forthcoming, the Department of Homeland Security has alleged that the man was carrying a gun and posed a mortal threat to officers attempting to apprehend an illegal alien wanted for assault. But those apparent facts were of no concern for a crowd of activists who arrived hours later and chanted their desire for the Twin Cities Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility: “Burn down Fort Snelling!”
The stakes of this current crisis are enormous. Can the left dictate what federal laws will be enforced? Do agitators and anarchists get a mob veto over allowing ICE and Border Patrol to operate in this “sanctuary” city? Can Democrat state and local officials get away with openly encouraging violence and then blaming the federal government when it occurs? Will the city again completely lose control and descend into chaos with “autonomous zones”?
The answer to all of those questions must be a resounding “No.” The Trump administration must win this fight to defend our laws. Minnesota must be brought to order.
In a recent interview, President Trump has signaled he doesn’t want to use the Insurrection Act. Reticence to use this measure is wise, but the city is fast spinning out of control.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has consistently issued incendiary comments about getting federal agents out of the state. Walz has talked about being “at war with the federal government,” has called ICE “Trump’s modern-day Gestapo,” and has described the Trump administration’s determination to enforce immigration law as a “campaign of organized brutality.” It seems evident that his comments have helped radicalize some activists to take tragic, senseless actions that put their lives in danger.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has taken the same tack. On January 7, he said, “To ICE: Get the f— out of Minneapolis.” On Saturday, after the 37-year-old protester engaged in a scuffle with ICE and was shot and killed, Frey referred to ICE as “invaders” and said that the chaos was the fault of federal law enforcement officers whom the president should “remove” from the city so as to achieve peace.
To reveal just how preposterous this grandstanding is, consider the case of another blue city, Memphis, that took a very different tack with ICE. As immigration lawyer Alicia Nieves writes in a new article at Compact titled “How Pro-Immigrant Activism Turned Dangerous,” blame for the “tinderbox” conditions falls squarely on Minneapolis and a few other Democrat cities that have decided that not only will police not cooperate with ICE in detaining illegal aliens, but they will not even be allowed to assist in dangerous confrontations between protesters and federal agents.
Though she is herself a critic of some ICE tactics, Nieves understands that ICE agents are upholding the law—and cities such as Minneapolis are not. “Democratic officials must also seriously consider rolling back sanctuary-city laws,” Nieves writes, “that prevent local law enforcement from transferring detainees to ICE based on the agency’s determination of removability under immigration law.”
Nieves suggests that there is a model for working with ICE that has been successful. Mayor Paul Young of crime-ridden Memphis chose a very different approach from Jacob Frey when DHS decided to send more agents to the Tennessee city. “By working with DHS,” Nieves writes, “Young was able to focus enforcement on serious criminals, thereby lessening disruption in the community.”
How did that work out? “In 2025, overall crime in Memphis fell by 41 percent, and murders declined by 47 percent compared to 2023.”
Compare this to Minneapolis this year. X user MN Conservative looked at data from the Minneapolis Police Department this week. As of January 22, year-to-date statistics showed Minneapolis assault numbers up 18%, rapes up 10.6%, domestic assaults up 13%, and carjacking up 50%.
That shouldn’t be surprising. In order to let the anti-ICE activists have their way, the Minneapolis Police have essentially backed off enforcing even the most basic order.
Even before this weekend, Minneapolis already had radical leftists following any vehicles they suspected might have ICE officers in them, demanding ID from ordinary citizens, blocking off streets, and setting up no-go zones. Strange how the people protesting the enforcement of U.S. immigration law seem to have no compunction about telling their fellow citizens which public areas they may or may not be in at any given time.
This weekend, things ramped up. Activists, convinced that there was a plane full of deportees arriving, staged a sit-in at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport, infuriating travelers. An activist bit off the finger of a federal agent. Minneapolis businesses that survived Minneapolis’s insane COVID-19 regimen and the destruction wrought by the last round of radicalism shut down on Friday and Saturday. Many of them boarded up in fear of the worst on Saturday night.
The rest of the country will not follow Minnesota into the depths of destruction this time, but there are too many Democrat cities and states that will feel empowered if the Winter of Love succeeds. The Democrat game plan of rioting until they get what they want must be defeated. And the politicians must be brought to account.
As Minnesotan John Hinderaker of PowerLine recently wrote, Walz, Frey, and assorted other political figures “have deliberately fomented riots and disorder because they distract attention from the ruling Democrats’ appalling record, including but not limited to billions and billions of dollars stolen from taxpayers by Democratic Party clients, with the aid, active or passive, of Democratic officials.”
Americans need to see that the rule of law stands (even if Democrats don’t like the laws being enforced), that law and order applies in blue cities, and that lawless politicians will be brought to account.
David P. Deavel teaches at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. A past Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute, he is a Senior Contributor at The Imaginative Conservative. Follow him on X (Twitter) @davidpdeavel.
Even if you have a concealed carry permit, common sense would say don’t bring your gun to an I.C.E. protest.
What’s happening in Minnesota is in fact an insurrection. January 6 was a stroll through the capitol. Now, what will be done about it?
Just saw a news headline showing Mr. Schumer stating that the Dems. In the Senate are going to block funding for DHS . We are sliding into oblivion if the Democrats are not stopped. It can be done on the midterms if people would use their common sense.
Invoke the insurrection act, arrest, all the political figures, opposing ice, and just wipe through the city. Anyone standing in the way are directly impeding, ice officers, and local officers of doing their duty.
Thank you for reporting on the relationship between I.C.E. and the city of Memphis. Memphis residents should be very proud of the leadership of Mayor Paul Young. With major crime rates being much lower than in 2023, his cooperation with the Feds is going against the grain so to speak with the Dem party. He probably should change parties at the end of his term.
God bless Memphis and Mayor Paul Young.
This country of 250 years is simply much greater than the leftist quagmire in Minnesota (or Minnesomalia as some have renamed it). The rest of this country has had a belly full of Minnesota’s political disaster. We will not be drug downward into this ridiculous conundrum.
Most of these individuals are hired mercenaries so therefore are enemies to our country and should be treated as such! Let law enforcement do their job and get out of the way!
This should not be a brainer there is or are laws already dealing with the similar and the same situations, just apply them, no questions, as they are meant to be used . What is the problem here, illegal immigrant broke the law by being here. Stop the payments to the agitators and there will not be protest, or treat them according to law, they are helping and abetting the criminals, that makes them criminals, there are consequences for unlawful acts , what is so hard to understand, am I that daft?
Walz should be impeached, then tried for treason.
Common sense – not so common anymore. God Bless the ICE and keep them safe and strong.
Let me first say, these law enforcement officers are dealing with uncommon times in the streets of our major cities. Democrat politicians have taken things way too far and have crossed the line into treasonous conduct! I couldn’t imagine being in the position that our law enforcement agencies find themselves in every day. With that said, I believe that the training these officers have relied on for many years (in normal times) – determining when lethal force should be authorized really needs to be reevaluated. We all now realize that the democrats and the media hope and pray that some of these rioters are killed to promote their agenda. The left is winning this war because of the media!
To law enforcement: Quit playing their game! How many non-lethal methods are there that can be used to apprehend an agitator? What kind of protective gear can be added to protect the officers from harm? What kind of methods, tools, and deterrence can be used to prevent an all-out whistling match from breaking out? – When a wild dangerous animal is being subdued, tranquilizer guns are used! — Right? Adapt, Adjust, Stop relying on tactics typically used during normal times! Quit giving the media fuel for their fire!
how many are these are paid protestors from all over the country Trillions wasted on crime and everyone is walking without any accountabiity
Minnesota has stepped over the line. The Insurrection Act is there for a reason and Minnesota is going to force Trumps hand, the sooner the better. Make an example of the rioters and Minnesota officials.
Make arrests, make some prosecution, Get jail time BUT Local & state MN wont Help
Then deny Fed funds
Re: lawless politicians will be held to account.
We hope they will be held to account for their every word and action that has encouraged these criminal and destructive actions!
Do what Mexico did back in the 1960’s warn everyone to get off the streets or they will be shot down! They have not had any riots since then, anyone who doesn’t like it should get out of our country!
An insurrection! All involved need to be jailed without legal representation just like the J6 victims were.Democrats are immune to the law with corrupt media and courts aiding
Love it when gun control liberals now say it’s ok to have a concealed weapon when it’s registered but forget to mention u do not bring it to a paid for riot and disobey law enforcement while they are trying to arrest a criminal!
Why can’t these insurrectionists and the politicians behind them be treated the same way as the Jan. 6th protesters were? Does justice in this country depend on political affiliation? (That’s a rhetorical question.)
This is an excellent, well thought out article and with solid logic! This is all about another cover up of Democrats criminal activity, they’re so good at it and the weak kneed middle of the roaders have no stomach to end the take over of there already compromised party.
I WANT TRUMP TO DECLARE THE “INSURRECTION ACT OF 1807”!!!!! THESE ANTIFA LOOK-ALIKES NEED TO HAVE SOME SKULL THUMPPING!!!!
Anyone that interferes with federal law enforcement needs to be arrested and incarcerated by any non-lethal methods necessary unless they use lethal means in which case terminate them.
Yep! All of the violence and chaos was and is caused by Timpon and Small Fry. They are so disrespectful and for Timpon to let the city, again, be filled with rioters as he did in May 2020, is disgusting. They are just creating this problem because of their libtard rhetoric. They need to be arrested and put in jail along with Omar!
The reason we are at this point is because through past years there has been absolutely no accountability for anything. Apparently, all the politicians have been stealing tax money in their elaborate schemes. So, it only gets more brazen and worse. Democrats have always been at the heart of criminality, and this attracts criminals in Gov. because they realize they can get away with anything. Democrats were behind the KKK, Jim Crow laws and the civil war. Maybe it’s time the spineless Republicans proceed with either rule of law, regardless of person/position, or another civil war.
Why not cede Minnesota to Canada…where it belongs. Stretch the U.S./Canada border a little south, build a border wall around 2 sides of the state, and let the canadiens deal with it.
Democrats used to oppose licensed pistol carrying, to the extent of larger municipalities not recognizing the credentials of out of towners, and blue States not honoring those of other States. So now they point out that this agitator was credentialed ? But not carrying the document at the time, but possessing extra ammo in an additional loaded up magazine. BTW the pistol is a Beretta M92, an enhanced version of the US military M9, which is among the “Assault” weapons roster of prescribed firearms unfit for civilian ownership. So what is the Democrats position ? NRA fellow travelers and allies ?
The democrackhead politicians have gone way to far, and if president Trump doesn’t stand up to these criminals, then they mise well be owning the country . The rioting will continue and America will be lost to the lawlessness these democrackhead politicians continue to push out on the streets and the puppets who get paid from the far left will continue to get hurt or end up loosening their lives because of the stupidity of following these far left democrackheads.
Shut all federal funding off to Minnesota
The activists in Minneapolis have declared war on not only ICE, they are just the symbols, they are fighting President Trump. It’s them against Trump. Only they forget Trump is enforcing the laws. They are not. They love criminals. They love for ICE to shoot them all. They are at war with the citizens of the US and defending people who just walked across the border and are raiding our treasury to the tune of billions if not trillions of dollars. And poor and middle class is being left to fend for themselves. I suggest we all step over the border turn around and walk back in. We’d get all the protection from the Tampon Timmies in the democrat party. Heck we might even be called comrades. You know this trickle up economy Biden talked about never happened. Whoever heard that the poor are going to make the country prosperous. But that was and is the dem policy. It’s working well for the billionaires. They still keep pouring their money into the dems campaigns. They know the dems will never get a billionaire tax increase passed. Why because they will blame the republicans for opposing it. These billionaires are creating jobs in America. Taxing them doesn’t increase the economy. But a strong job market and wages will bring prosperity to every one. Not a freebie tax handout. That creates inflated prices which takes years to recover from. Stop the warmongers in Minneapolis and the rest of Minnesota. Or any other dem state I.e. CA, Oregon and Washington. There are a few more who are on the verge of following these states. President Trump is holding back which the dems didn’t do on Jan 6. When Pelosi set a plan in motion to incarcerate thousands of people who did nothing more than sight see the capitol. They didn’t whistle and scream or threaten anyone. They wanted to be heard. These protesters in Minneapolis are waging war. Tyranny and anti freedom of thought. Obey them or else. They put Trump in a scenario that fits their rhetoric. There is not a word of truth in it. And Tampon Timmy and this Frey guy keep inciting the people more every day because they don’t like law enforcement. Without law enforcement you have anarchy and mob mentality among these protesters because they think they are right and can do whatever they want because their leaders tell them it’s okay to do this. No it isn’t. It’s insurrection and an attempt to overthrow the government. Because they know they think they are right. But to live in a country as free as America they are very wrong. They are destroying the freedoms we enjoy under the constitution every day. Law and order is the only way a country will work. Without it you have chaos if not out and out war. Tampon Timmy and Frey are responsible for this chaos. And nothing what they say from her on out will stop this. But a couple of thousand troops arresting these hundred or so of paid protesters. I suggest deporting them along with the illegal criminals. Maybe they can form their own penal colony and attack America from there. You Think?? That will never happen. They can’t stand on their own two feet. Their IQ isn’t high enough.
Well said, I hope Walz Frey and Ellison read this and come to their senses.
They are the cause of the chaos in Minneapolis and the sooner they are removed from power the sooner Minneapolis can begin the long road to recovery.
Blockade Minnesota!
They were on an activist network chatting about this “nurse with the gun “ being one of them and they were calling for more to show up and cause more chaos. Common sense will tell you If this isn’t an insurrection then I don’t know what is. I hope the federal government soon puts a stop to this war on American citizens
There are seventy-six republicans, RINO’s in the house that need to be unseated and several senators including useless Thune, that need to be taken out of power positions on committees now! Collins, Murkowski, Cornyn, and Rand Paul, yes Rand Paul! Throw them out of the republican party!
If the Democrats wove a fake tale about an imagined January 6th insurrection, it shouldn’t be too difficult to show them their own dirty little insurrection. Arrest the two clowns running the city and he state. Walz will cave and curl up in a fetal position when he sees the cage he’s going to sit in. I’m sure the skinny coward in the Mayor’s Mansion will disappear into a wall crack, never to be heard from again!!
Thank God for ICE. I support their operation to clean up the illegal criminals that have been allowed into this country by weak liberals. Any citizen that attempts to stop them in their job is not a true citizen of the United States of America. The mayor of Minneapolis and Mr. Walz are the instigators behind the protests that have led to the deaths of two of the sheeple. Both of them need to be held accountable for insurrection.
This looks like a ploy to hide the theft of millions of dollars of taxpayer money that went to Somalia. Classic liberal misdirection and finger pointing.
Quoting Bill O’Reilly from tonight’s program: After displaying the text of the federal law: ” Mr. Patel: Get your crew out there and stop this.” Investigate the issues and charge the people who are breaking the law.
These insurrections and deaths are a result of the policies of the obamba,soros,biden administration and every democrat that was involved in the decision to open the borders to allow all of the illegal aliens into our country.Most of them don’t want to assimilate,they want to change AMERICA into the same sh!t#0le countries that they came from.If anyone else didn’t notice it’s almost all a muslim thing,they have no clue about running a country the correct way,it’s a rebuild and ruin thing for them.
I grieve for the protesters on the front lines. They are cold. The whistles, horns, and abuse screamed at the Federal officers keep them in a brittle emotional state. They are told they are heros in their own action movie or video game. They do not know they are “cannon fodder”.
I just hope Federal Investigators and Lawyers are busy gathering evidence to capture the leaders and the funders in one fell swoop. Cut the power to this anarchistic animal growing in Milwaukee/St. Paul. No more cannon fodder. No more abuse of our Federal Officers.
Could this be unfortunate distractions to divert attention from the government-plus corruption and taxpayer theft going on in MN??
The FBI should be investigating the lawbreakers.
Strange how the protest at the Capitol was called insurrection after feds fired tear gas and flash bombs into the crowd inducing them into violence but the leftist cousing violence at the command of lunatics is again called peaceful protest just my opinion
Kash Patel is not doing his job. The FBI should be in Minneapolis investigating and charging the lawbreakers.
Federalize the Minnesota National Guard. Problem solved.
We are being deceived into believing these protests are legitimate protests! They are being incited by those wanting to overthrow our government, Antifa style! We need strength to stop this!
There are four (4) ways to get someone to support your position.
In ascending order:
We note that the Governor and the Mayor operate in three-of-four of these “motivators”.
America, as We try to enforce our laws, it seem there are & more protests. However, I believe these protesters are people from other countries, not US citizens. Please keep this in mind. These people can’t, or not supposed to vote in our elections.
Stop procrastinating and call it what it is, civil war. Treat it as such and send in the union’s military. The lawful citizens are not receiving the protection they are entitled to.
IMAGINE an America where some Politicians press n a party are aiding and abetting foreigners n Illegal Invaders, criminality n even subversive seditionists 2come into the US plus these entities are attacking the Militia protecting citizens, embezzling Taxpayer funds, defrauding for Theft YET tv people lie fabricate n call thiswicked evil GOOD AND RIGHT, especially when the riff raft get injured or killed while interfering… AND just 12 years ago these same enemies of Authority were touting DEPORTATIONS, GUARDING BORDERS AND HAD 70 DEATHS… A LA bHUSSEINo regime! ????????
To quote Bill O’Reilly tonight regarding the total lack of FBI involvement: “Mr. Patel: Do your job X!X!” The actual language in the law was displayed on the screen. Patel should have had a crew out there investigating two weeks ago. He has done nothing.
Yes. Stop this madness in all states. This has GOT TO STOP
MR TRUMP