Republican lawmakers are urging President Donald Trump to take the extraordinary step of invoking the Insurrection Act against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. This follows a high-stakes standoff where the Democratic governor prepared to deploy the National Guard to hinder federal immigration enforcement.
Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) took to social media on Wednesday evening to demand immediate action. "Invoke the Insurrection Act. Arrest Tim Walz," Miller wrote, arguing that the governor is actively obstructing federal law.
The tension reached a breaking point after a deadly encounter in Minneapolis involving ICE agents and a 37-year-old woman, Renee Nicole Good. Federal officials claim Good "weaponized her vehicle" to attack an agent, while Walz has characterized the federal surge as "dangerous, sensationalized operations."
Governor Walz issued a "warning order" to the Minnesota National Guard, signaling they should prepare for potential deployment. He stated that the Guard would be used for the "defense and relief of the state" and to protect citizens from what he calls federal "propaganda."
South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace echoed the call for federal intervention, reminding Walz that the U.S. Constitution grants the President supreme authority. "What Walz is threatening has a name: insurrection," Mace stated. "Mr. President, the law is on your side. Use it."
The Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the President to deploy the military domestically to enforce federal law when a state is in rebellion or obstructing justice. Historically, it has been used to ensure federal orders are carried out despite resistance from state governors.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem defended the ICE agents, labeling the encounter that led to the shooting as an act of "domestic terrorism" by the driver. She criticized Walz for "weaponizing" his own office to interfere with lawful federal investigations into fraud and immigration.
President Trump has maintained that the ICE officer involved in the fatal shooting acted in "self-defense." He has accused Walz of being "corrupt" and allowing "tens of billions" in taxpayer dollars to be stolen through state programs.
Walz, who recently announced he will not seek reelection, remains defiant. He has accused the Trump administration of "waging a war on Minnesota" and vowed to fight the federal crackdown until the end of his term in 2027.
As the standoff continues, legal experts note that invoking the Insurrection Act would be a historic escalation. It would allow the federal government to bypass state authority entirely and use the military for domestic law enforcement.