Even as global attention is focused on the Trump administration’s global show of power with the abduction of Venezuelan President, the possibility of U.S. action in Iran and the launch of the Board of Peace, the administration is facing growing challenges at home. One area in particular is its push to expand anti-immigration operations, particularly in cities and states controlled by Democrats. Over the last few weeks, the latest flashpoint in this effort has been the city of Minneapolis in Minnesota.
Federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security have been deployed to the city, which has a substantial community of Somali immigrants and is located in the state governed by Democratic Governor Tim Walz, the former candidate for vice president. Residents in the city responded by organizing against DHS operations, protesting, and tracking agents as they attempt to carry out operations. The agents, for their part, have been using significant force, detaining legal and illegal immigrants alike as well as citizens, and notably killing two U.S. citizens.
The first incident two weeks ago involved an agent firing into the car of a local resident, claiming she attempted to run over agents. The second happened over the weekend where multiple agents restrained and then fired on another U.S. citizen protesting federal operations. In both cases, the Trump administration claimed the victim was attempting violence against agents and prevented law enforcement investigation.
The incidents highlight the ways in which the administration's all-out push against immigration, and the protest against it, is causing tensions and violence domestically in the U.S. and may help explain the erosion in public support for the administration and for its immigration policies. Over time, a perception of domestic weakness may weaken President Trump’s complete control over Congressional Republicans (signs of this are already emerging) and may also carry a more oppositional Democratic party into midterm election victories in 2026.
Even as global attention is focused on the Trump administration’s global show of power with the abduction of Venezuelan President, the possibility of U.S. action in Iran and the launch of the Board of Peace, the administration is facing growing challenges at home. One area in particular is its push to expand anti-immigration operations, particularly in cities and states controlled by Democrats. Over the last few weeks, the latest flashpoint in this effort has been the city of Minneapolis in Minnesota.
Federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security have been deployed to the city, which has a substantial community of Somali immigrants and is located in the state governed by Democratic Governor Tim Walz, the former candidate for vice president. Residents in the city responded by organizing against DHS operations, protesting, and tracking agents as they attempt to carry out operations. The agents, for their part, have been using significant force, detaining legal and illegal immigrants alike as well as citizens, and notably killing two U.S. citizens.
The first incident two weeks ago involved an agent firing into the car of a local resident, claiming she attempted to run over agents. The second happened over the weekend where multiple agents restrained and then fired on another U.S. citizen protesting federal operations. In both cases, the Trump administration claimed the victim was attempting violence against agents and prevented law enforcement investigation.
The incidents highlight the ways in which the administration's all-out push against immigration, and the protest against it, is causing tensions and violence domestically in the U.S. and may help explain the erosion in public support for the administration and for its immigration policies. Over time, a perception of domestic weakness may weaken President Trump’s complete control over Congressional Republicans (signs of this are already emerging) and may also carry a more oppositional Democratic party into midterm election victories in 2026.