US President Donald Trump has instructed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) not to intervene in protests in Democrat-run cities unless requested by state and local authorities. The directive comes amid weeks of ongoing demonstrations sparked by a large deployment of federal agents, including Border Patrol and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to Minneapolis.
Trump's statement, made on Saturday, signals a shift in the administration's approach to immigration enforcement in Democrat-led cities. He has instructed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that federal authorities will only become involved in protests if requested by state and local officials, unless they pose an immediate threat to public safety.
However, Trump has warned that ICE and Border Patrol agents will take aggressive action to protect federal buildings and property from damage or vandalism. He vowed that federal law enforcement officers will not tolerate any form of disrespect or violence towards them, stating that perpetrators will face "an equal, or more, consequence."
The move follows weeks of escalating tensions between protesters and immigration authorities in Minneapolis. The city has seen multiple clashes between activists and ICE agents, resulting in the deaths of two US citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were allegedly killed by federal agents responding to threats.
Despite the Trump administration's latest announcement, protests continue to rage on across the country, with thousands taking to the streets in Minneapolis and other cities to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from Minnesota. The state's Attorney General, Keith Ellison, has challenged the enforcement surge, arguing that DHS is violating constitutional protections.
A federal judge has declined to halt the operations, citing the ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration's actions. The Department of Justice has dismissed the allegations as "legally frivolous."
The decision by Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem marks a significant shift in the administration's approach to immigration enforcement in Democrat-led cities. While some have welcomed the move as a sign of cooperation, others fear that it may be an attempt to placate critics while maintaining federal control over immigration policies.
As one local reporter noted, "All of this signals more cooperation between local authorities and federal officials, which has created a little bit of a sense of optimism here in the city that tensions may be beginning to calm down." However, protesters remain skeptical, arguing that a full withdrawal of federal troops is necessary for an end to the unrest.
Trump's statement, made on Saturday, signals a shift in the administration's approach to immigration enforcement in Democrat-led cities. He has instructed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that federal authorities will only become involved in protests if requested by state and local officials, unless they pose an immediate threat to public safety.
However, Trump has warned that ICE and Border Patrol agents will take aggressive action to protect federal buildings and property from damage or vandalism. He vowed that federal law enforcement officers will not tolerate any form of disrespect or violence towards them, stating that perpetrators will face "an equal, or more, consequence."
The move follows weeks of escalating tensions between protesters and immigration authorities in Minneapolis. The city has seen multiple clashes between activists and ICE agents, resulting in the deaths of two US citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were allegedly killed by federal agents responding to threats.
Despite the Trump administration's latest announcement, protests continue to rage on across the country, with thousands taking to the streets in Minneapolis and other cities to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from Minnesota. The state's Attorney General, Keith Ellison, has challenged the enforcement surge, arguing that DHS is violating constitutional protections.
A federal judge has declined to halt the operations, citing the ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration's actions. The Department of Justice has dismissed the allegations as "legally frivolous."
The decision by Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem marks a significant shift in the administration's approach to immigration enforcement in Democrat-led cities. While some have welcomed the move as a sign of cooperation, others fear that it may be an attempt to placate critics while maintaining federal control over immigration policies.
As one local reporter noted, "All of this signals more cooperation between local authorities and federal officials, which has created a little bit of a sense of optimism here in the city that tensions may be beginning to calm down." However, protesters remain skeptical, arguing that a full withdrawal of federal troops is necessary for an end to the unrest.
... I mean, on one hand, it's nice to see some tension easing up in Minneapolis, and maybe, just maybe, local authorities can start doing their own job again without needing federal help 
. But at the same time, I'm worried that Trump's move is just a PR stunt to calm people down before he makes another move that'll set things back on fire 
... and what about all the people who are still scared of ICE and Border Patrol being in their city? Can we really trust that local authorities will protect them now? 
I guess only time will tell, but for now, I'm still keeping a close eye on this situation 
my friend's sister is actually from minnesota and she's super upset about all this stuff she says it's not just about immigration but also about police brutality and systemic racism 
i saw this amazing rainbow over the ocean and i felt so peaceful 
what's going on with these protests in minnesota tho? it sounds super intense 
i mean i know they're upset about the federal agents showing up but like isn't that gonna escalate things more? 
it was literally falling apart but in a good way, you know? Like, the flavors were all popping and I swear my taste buds did a little dance. Anyway, I started thinking about how the US government needs to take a chill pill on immigration enforcement, like, what's the deal with all these protests? Can't we just talk it out over some tacos?
. I don't think we should celebrate yet until we see some real changes in how these protests are handled. It's also super concerning that Trump's warning ICE and Border Patrol agents will take aggressive action against protesters... that's just escalating the situation and putting people's lives at risk 
. Can't say for sure what this means for the future, but I'm definitely keeping a close eye on it 
.
like who exactly did he think was gonna step in and save the day? lol it's still chaos out there, especially after those two deaths 
i mean, yeah, good for minneapolis or whatever to have a lil more autonomy, but at what cost? protesters arent just gonna magically stop protesting because trump gave them some lip service 
. but at the same time, it sounds like there's some hope now that local officials are getting more control over things. fingers crossed that actual change will happen instead of just a PR stunt 
. Now it feels like everyone's just tryin' to be heard, but nobody's listenin' 
. Trump thinkin' he can just tell DHS to back off? Please, that's just gonna make things worse 
. It's like they think they can just control everything and suppress everyone's voice 
. Not on my watch, buddy!
" I mean, isn't that just code for "we're gonna let you have your say, but if you start making too much noise, we'll come in and shut it down"? 
And what's up with the whole "protesters are disrespecting law enforcement" thing? Can't they just, like, peacefully protest without getting shot 
? I'm all for people expressing themselves, even if it means waving a sign that says "I hate ICE"... but not when someone gets hurt in the process 
but at the same time, we don't want any innocent people getting hurt 
. And now the feds are saying they'll take aggressive action if people vandalize or disrespect them? That's like, totally not how you resolve conflicts 
.
. This whole thing feels like a giant game of cat and mouse 
and I don't want to see anyone get hurt in the process 
. I get why some people might be skeptical tho - it's hard to trust that Trump's words won't just be a way to placate critics and keep the status quo 
. But at the same time, it's good that there's finally some movement towards de-escalation... we'll see how it plays out 
. Can we just get a clear answer from someone about what's really going on here? This whole thing feels like it's all being swept under the rug 
.
.
.
. The fact that DHS Secretary Noem has agreed to this directive raises more questions than answers... what exactly are they hoping to achieve? 
keith ellison's right, DHS is violating constitutional protections here 
can't wait 2 see how this all plays out