Federal Agents Deploy Teargas in Minneapolis Amid ICE Crackdown
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, federal agents lobbed teargas canisters towards protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 24 January. The scene, captured in a photograph by Kerem Yücel for AFP/Getty Images, depicted agents in helmets, gas masks, and camouflage fatigues preparing to open fire, with one agent heard via a TV mic comparing the situation to the video game Call of Duty and remarking, "So cool, huh?" This incident occurred just over a mile from where Renee Good was fatally shot on 7 January, itself less than a mile from the site of George Floyd's murder by police in May 2020.
Political Outcry and Civil War Comparisons
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed outrage at a press conference on Saturday, demanding, "How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?" He referred to the Trump administration's ongoing immigration crackdown in the city. An angry crowd gathered, swearing profanities at federal officers and labelling them "cowards" while urging them to leave. The deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has drawn comparisons to civil war scenarios, with critics accusing President Donald Trump of creating a spectacle of terror reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.
In his first inaugural address nine years ago, Trump spoke of "American carnage," and many argue he has delivered on this by sending ICE agents to Democratic-led cities like Minneapolis. This strategy appears aimed at imposing collective punishment for political defiance, echoing tactics used by historical figures such as Saddam Hussein and Joseph Stalin. Trump's actions have been described as vengeful petulance, with recent examples including lashing out at Canada and NATO allies over perceived slights.
Targeting Minnesota and Somali Community
Trump seems to harbour a special animosity towards Minnesota, having lost the presidential elections there in 2016, 2020, and 2024, despite neighbouring states voting in his favour. He has falsely claimed victory in Minnesota all three times, though no Republican has won the state since Richard Nixon in 1972. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali community in the United States, making it a target for Trump's racism; he recently described Somalis as "low-IQ people." The state also includes progressive Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born critic who frequently challenges Trump, and Governor Tim Walz, a trenchant opponent who was Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 election.
The legacy of George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis adds to the tension, as it sparked nationwide Black Lives Matter protests that reached the White House. America now feels febrile and fragile once again, with Trump deploying 3,000 ICE officers and Customs and Border Protection agents to Minnesota, vastly outnumbering local police forces. Many operate with masks, weapons, and impunity, but lack training in de-escalation techniques, leading to incidents where local politicians have been roughed up, legal observers detained without charge, schoolchildren teargassed, and motorists dragged from their cars.
Fatal Shooting and Calls for Action
The situation turned deadly when federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, on Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed officers fired "defensive shots" after a man with a handgun approached them, but Governor Walz accused authorities of a "rush to judgment" and called the shooting "sickening." The DHS has faced criticism for previous false claims, undermining its credibility. A chorus of Democrats, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, reacted in horror, calling for ICE to leave Minneapolis and urging Congress to cut off its funding. Ocasio-Cortez posted on social media, "Americans are being killed in the street by their government. Our Constitution is being shredded and our rights are dissolving. Resist."
Journalist and historian Garrett Graff wrote on his blog, "This is what fascism looks like – there is no bright line between democracy and autocracy... there is a US city living under occupation by fascist presidential secret police right now." TV footage from Saturday showed the air thick with teargas as agents forced a protester to the ground, who screamed, "I'm a United States citizen! You're gonna kill me!" Nearby, a woman knelt screaming as a man tried to comfort her.
Broader Implications and Democratic Response
The past week has seen western leaders in Davos draw a line against Trump's bullying over Greenland, and Pretti's death could serve as a similar moment of reckoning for Democrats domestically. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker warned, "We're in a precarious moment... if we do not stop this now, if we don't abolish Trump's ICE and make sure we have a trained force following the law, this is going to erupt into something really terrible." The events in Minneapolis highlight a critical juncture in US politics, with fears that the situation could escalate further if not addressed promptly.
