GOP senators urge caution as Trump threatens 'Insurrection Act' in Minneapolis over ICE protests

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican senators are publicly urging caution as President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the 'Insurrection Act', on Thursday, January 15, to respond to protests in Minneapolis following a fatal ICE shooting.

The warnings come as demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement continue to intensify in the city. 

While GOP lawmakers broadly support Trump’s immigration agenda, several expressed concern about deploying troops domestically. 

GOP senators push back on 'Insurrection Act' rhetoric

A number of Republican senators signaled reluctance over President Trump’s suggestion that he could invoke the 'Insurrection Act', to quell protests in Minneapolis.

The law, last updated in 1874, would allow the president to deploy active-duty military or federalized National Guard troops to restore order.

When asked whether invoking the law would be appropriate, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss) responded, “Probably not.” Other GOP senators echoed similar concerns, pointing to the volatile nature of the situation and the risks of further escalation.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said federal officials must proceed cautiously following the fatal shooting of Renee Good.

“I have felt that since the fatal shooting (of Good) a week or so ago that we needed to be very, very careful, very cautious in how we proceed, not only in Minnesota but in other areas,” Murkowski said.

She added that enforcement efforts should aim to “keep the conflict, the potential for conflict as it relates to ICE enforcement dialed back.”

Murkowski also drew parallels to past unrest in the city. “This feels like a climate that we went through during the time of George Floyd,” she said, adding, “Everything was just so tenuous and so volatile. We don’t need that.”

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) also called for restraint, saying, “I think that we need to calm the country down, not head further toward chaos.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) downplayed Trump’s threat but emphasized cooperation between federal, state, and local officials.

“Hopefully the local officials working with not only the federal law enforcement, ICE and other agencies, but also the local law enforcement officials will be able to settle things down,” he said.

Minneapolis ICE shooting and legal backdrop 

Protests erupted in Minneapolis after Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7 during an immigration operation.

In response to the protests, the Trump administration announced that it would send an additional 1,000 immigration officers to Minnesota.

On Thursday, Trump warned on Truth Social that he would invoke the 'Insurrection Act' if Minnesota officials did not halt disruptions to ICE operations.

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,” Trump wrote.

Some GOP senators acknowledged frustration with protest tactics.

Senator John Kennedy (R-La) said, “Something’s got to be done,” while adding, “I’m not saying every single ICE agent is blameless.”

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis) said that he hoped the situation would not escalate further, noting, “I certainly hope it doesn’t come to that.”