MINNEAPOLIS – January 18, 2026 – Governor Tim Walz has officially mobilized the Minnesota National Guard as the Twin Cities enter their second week of civil unrest.
Clashes at City Hall
Violent altercations erupted Saturday outside Minneapolis City Hall.
The Escalation: Protesters threw snowballs, water balloons, and rocks as armored police vans moved in to clear downtown streets.
The Injuries: Reports indicate multiple injuries among demonstrators, including high-profile activists, as the crowds bypassed police cordons.
The Lawsuit: Ellison vs. DHS
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a federal lawsuit to halt the surge, calling the presence of 2,000 masked federal officers an "unconstitutional invasion."
"Our schools are in lockdown and our businesses are closing because of the chaos ICE is causing," Ellison stated.
"This federal occupation of a sovereign state must end."
A federal judge has already issued a temporary restraining order limiting the tactics federal agents can use against peaceful bystanders, but the enforcement of this order remains a point of contention as federal raids continue.
Why Tensions Are Boiling
The protests were triggered by the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a mother of three and U.S. citizen, during a January 7th ICE confrontation.
Immediate withdrawal of all ICE and DHS agents from Minnesota.
Legal accountability for the officers involved in the Good shooting.
An end to "Operation Metro Surge" funding in the upcoming federal budget.
White House Response
President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to "restore order" in Minneapolis, labeling the state’s leadership as "weak" and claiming the surge is necessary to root out "foreign criminals and voter fraud."
