In the heated atmosphere of Minneapolis, a scene unfolded last night that mirrors a chaotic movie plot. Protesters took to the streets again, this time fired up by an incident involving an ICE agent and a Venezuelan migrant. In the melee that ensued, the migrant allegedly took up a snow shovel as a weapon, forcing the ICE agent into a tough spot. Naturally, the situation escalated quickly when the agent acted in self-defense and a bullet found its mark in the migrant’s leg. Now, that’s not exactly something you’d want to cheer about, but when law enforcement is being put in a situation where they’re getting smacked with a shovel, drastic measures sometimes come into play.
President Trump wasn’t about to stay quiet in the face of this uproar. He signaled his readiness to invoke the Insurrection Act, a robust legal mechanism that would enable the federal government to intervene if local authorities are unable, or perhaps unwilling, to manage the disorder. It’s akin to offering a stern hand to guide a headstrong adolescent who’s gone off the rails. Trump, keeping it classic, mentioned that many presidents before him have taken similar steps when necessary. Good for him for dusting off the history books.
Adding fuel to the fire, state officials in Minnesota seem to have taken issue with federal enforcement. The governor and the mayor appear to think that President Trump is fanning flames of chaos and discord. Maybe they’re hoping to solve things with a gentle scolding and a peace dove parade. Meanwhile, any reasonable observer might decide it’s time for adults to call in some help to lay down the law properly.
ICE agents, it’s worth noting, aren’t just out there improvising immigration laws on their own. They’re simply the boots on the ground enforcing laws passed by elected officials, including those griping about their methods. The laws, last time anyone checked, haven’t exactly been magically updated by the critique fairy during the Democrats’ tenure in power. Perhaps some of those complaints should be directed at the lawmakers who actually write the rules instead of the folks trying to keep order.
All in all, it’s becoming clear that chaos in Minneapolis could benefit from sturdy leadership and a return to common sense. Protesters can’t just go around whacking law enforcement officers with shovels—immigrant rights or not. The E in ICE stands for enforcement, not embrace. It’s time for everyone to cool down, use a shovel for snow, not street brawls, and perhaps develop a grasp on the divide between spirited activism and unlawful aggression. It’s as the old saying goes: you catch more flyaway protest sentiments with order and rule of law than with plain dissent.
