Democrats Escalate Demands for National Guard Deployment and Government Shutdown Amid Fury Over Minneapolis ICE Shooting
By Perplexity News Staff | January 25, 2026
Minneapolis, MN – Tensions have reached a boiling point in the Twin Cities following the fatal shooting of a local man by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on January 24, 2026, prompting furious Democrats to float extreme measures including the deployment of the National Guard and even a government shutdown to halt federal operations.
The Shooting Incident
The confrontation unfolded around 9:05 a.m. at the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), federal agents were conducting an operation when a 37-year-old American citizen approached Border Patrol officers armed with a handgun. Agents fired defensively after attempting to disarm him, with an analysis by The New York Times revealing ten shots were discharged within five seconds. The man was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead.[1]
Local officials identified the victim as a Minneapolis resident with a valid concealed carry permit. He worked as an intensive care unit nurse at the VA hospital, aiding critically ill veterans. Video footage captured a chaotic scene: an agent pushed a woman, the man confronted agents, was pepper-sprayed, wrestled to the ground in a 20-second struggle involving at least half a dozen agents, before shots rang out.[3]
DHS released a photo of the recovered SIG Sauer Emperor Scorpion handgun, complete with two magazines, corroborating their account of an armed threat. However, discrepancies emerged in official narratives. The City of Minneapolis reported responding to shots fired around 9:30 a.m. near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue, where firefighters extracted a victim—described variably as a man or woman—with life-threatening wounds.[2]
Local Outrage and Federal Standoff
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the incident as “a federal agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying.” He expressed deep sorrow to the victim’s family and demanded accountability, urging the federal government to “take responsibility” for terrorizing long-term residents and preventing further loss of life. Frey warned residents against actions that could provoke federal escalation, calling for unity over division.[2]
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty demanded local law enforcement secure the scene and insisted her office, alongside the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, lead the investigation. Tensions flared as FBI armored vehicles arrived hours later, with Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reporting federal officials blocked local access.[1]
This marks the third ICE-related shooting in January 2026, following the killings of Renée Good and an incident in Portland, amid ongoing anti-ICE protests.[1]
Democrats’ Radical Response
The shooting has ignited national political fury, particularly among Democrats. According to reports, party leaders are considering invoking the National Guard to protect Minneapolis from further federal incursions and threatening a government shutdown to defund ICE operations. Axios highlighted these escalations, with Trump administration sources defending the agents’ actions while local Democrats decry a pattern of overreach.
“This is the third time in a month,” one Democratic strategist told Axios anonymously. “We’re past protests—it’s time for real action. National Guard deployment and shutdown leverage are on the table.” The proposals echo broader partisan divides, with Democrats framing ICE’s Minneapolis presence as an occupation terrorizing communities.
Context of Escalating ICE Operations
The incident occurs against a backdrop of intensified federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Frey noted the city had “dreaded this moment” since ICE ramped up presence, ripping apart families and targeting contributors to Minneapolis’s culture and economy.[2]
Community standoffs immediately followed, with CBS News reporters witnessing federal agents clashing with locals at nearby intersections.[3] Minneapolis police have been stretched thin, as seen in unrelated recent violence like the January 8 shooting in the 700 block of Queen Avenue North, where a man was killed and the shooter fled.[4]
Calls for Justice and Investigation
Moriarty expects federal cooperation but faces resistance. Chief O’Hara’s frustration underscores jurisdictional battles. Frey pledged swift pursuit of justice while cautioning against chaos that could justify militarized responses.
Protests continue, building on January’s anti-ICE momentum. Democrats’ shutdown threats signal potential congressional gridlock, with implications for national security funding and immigration policy.
Broader Implications
This shooting amplifies debates over federal versus local authority, gun rights, and immigration enforcement. The victim’s legal firearm and permit complicate narratives of criminality, fueling arguments on both sides. As investigations unfold, Minneapolis braces for more unrest, with national eyes on whether Democratic brinkmanship forces policy shifts.
Authorities urge information on related incidents via MPD tips lines or CrimeStoppers. The city calls for peace amid profound grief.