US President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act to quell unrest over federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
He threatened to send in troops following a night of protests and vandalism in the Minnesota city after an agent shot a man in the leg.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an officer opened fire after he was attacked by three Venezuelan nationals with a shovel and broom handle.
Tensions have been running high in Minneapolis since an immigration agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, 37, last week, sparking nationwide protests.
The Insurrection Act is a 19th Century law that allows active-duty military personnel to be deployed for law enforcement duties inside the US.
Trump has previously said he might invoke this law without doing so, but he has recently indicated he would use the law if Minnesota officials failed to control professional agitators and insurrectionists.
The fatal shooting of Renee Good and the recent confrontation involving the ICE agent have intensified local tensions, with city officials pleading for calm. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are among those calling for a reduction of hostilities.
As protests continued, local police faced increased aggression from demonstrators, resulting in damage to government property and disruptions in the vicinity.
With about 3,000 federal officers deployed in Minnesota, the climate remains charged, with calls for accountability and reform echoing throughout the community.
