House Democrats are speaking out forcefully against President Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy federal troops to Minneapolis, where violent protests have erupted following ICE-involved shootings.
Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colorado) drew parallels to Trump’s actions in California last year, warning that the president is once again overstepping his authority.
“Just like California last year, where Donald Trump sent the military in improperly, and the courts actually agreed with that and said that he lacked the authority to do so, once again, he’s pushing the boundaries of the rule of law,” Crow said.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California) went further, accusing the administration of operating in “a lawless way” and characterizing ICE as the president’s private police force.
“He’s got an ICE agency acting as his private police. They’re knocking on people’s doors, American citizens’ doors, and taking away their freedom. They shot to death a 37-year-old mother,” Khanna said, referring to the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer last week.
The Democrats’ criticism comes as tensions escalate in Minneapolis following another shooting Wednesday evening. An ICE officer shot and wounded a suspect after three individuals allegedly attacked the agent with a snow shovel and broom handle during an arrest attempt. The incident sparked renewed violent demonstrations, with protesters smashing cars, setting fires, and launching fireworks at police.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. military forces or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, despite opposition from state governors and legal setbacks in court.
Read more:
- Trump threatens Insurrection Act as protesters, politicians rail against ICE raids in Minneapolis
- Trump threatens to use the Insurrection Act to ‘put an end’ to protests in Minneapolis
- 5 questions about Trump’s Insurrection Act threat in Minnesota
- What is the Insurrection Act? Trump’s Minnesota threat, explained
- Dems urge demonstrators to peacefully protest ICE as Trump threatens Insurrection Act over violence
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