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WASHINGTON – On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that he has directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to refrain from involving federal forces in protests taking place in Democrat-led cities unless local officials specifically request assistance. This decision follows increasing criticism of his administration’s immigration policies.
Trump took to social media to declare, “Under no circumstances will we engage in the protests or riots in poorly managed Democrat cities unless they seek our help.”
He did not elaborate on how this directive might influence actions by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, or other federal entities. However, Trump emphasized, “We will robustly defend any federal buildings under attack by what I call highly paid lunatics, agitators, and insurrectionists.”
Furthermore, Trump stated that he has instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol to “act decisively” in safeguarding federal property.
The Trump administration has previously deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to several Democratic strongholds, including Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon. However, the latest directive arrives amid growing opposition to such measures, particularly in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul have challenged a federal immigration enforcement surge in those cities, arguing that DHS is violating constitutional protections.
A federal judge says she won’t halt enforcement operations as the lawsuit proceeds. State and local officials had sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope. Justice Department lawyers have called the lawsuit “legally frivolous.”
The state, particularly Minneapolis, has been on edge after federal officers fatally shot two people in the city: Renee Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest the federal action in Minnesota and across the country.
Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has suggested the administration could reduce the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota — but only if state and local officials cooperate. Trump sent Homan to Minneapolis following the killings of Good and Pretti, seeming to signal a willingness to ease tensions in Minnesota.
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