BY MIRABEL ODETA
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has directed the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies not to involve themselves in protests taking place in cities led by Democratic officials unless those cities formally request federal assistance or unless federal property faces a direct threat.
In a social media statement, the president emphasized that protecting local and state properties is the responsibility of municipal authorities, and that federal forces should act only when specifically called upon or when there is a clear danger to federal facilities.
Trump said that personnel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol will remain focused on guarding federal sites and will not engage with demonstrations themselves, unless such action is requested by local or state governments. His statement comes amid a wave of protests that have surged following highly controversial incidents in Minneapolis earlier this month, where federal immigration enforcement operations have drawn intense criticism and protests across the United States.
Large crowds of protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis and other cities this week after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti — both U.S.
citizens who were killed by officers involved in a federal immigration crackdown — have prompted outcry from community members, local officials and civil rights advocates, who question the use of force by federal personnel. These protests have not been limited to Minnesota; demonstrations in support of ending the heightened federal presence have spread to other major cities, with thousands gathering to express frustration and concern over accountability and government tactics.
The administration’s deployment of roughly 3,000 federal officers to the Minneapolis area as part of an intensified effort to curb illegal immigration and related crimes has placed federal agents at the center of public scrutiny. Protesters have repeatedly demanded the removal of these agencies from their communities, arguing that their presence escalates tensions rather than eases them. In response to these concerns and recent events, Trump’s announcement clarifies that federal law enforcement will not proactively involve itself in protest management unless certain conditions are met.
Trump has a history of sending federal law enforcement officers and National Guard units to U.S. cities that are governed by Democratic leaders, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon, asserting that such measures are necessary to enforce federal laws and control crime. These moves have often been met with pushback from local officials, who argue that such deployments overstep local autonomy and can fuel further unrest. Many city leaders have maintained that they are capable of handling local protest dynamics and public safety without an expanded federal footprint.
In his message, Trump reiterated his stance that local and state governments should be the primary authorities responsible for maintaining order and protecting public infrastructure, and that federal agencies should reserve their involvement for situations where they are explicitly welcomed or where national property and personnel are under threat.
The announcement marks a significant shift in the administration’s posture toward protests in major metropolitan areas across the country and reflects mounting pressure in the wake of contentious enforcement operations and their fallout.