The FBI has asked field offices across the United States to seek volunteers for temporary duty in Minneapolis as anti-ICE protests intensify following the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
At a Glance
- The FBI request is voluntary and targets agents willing to investigate assault-on-officer and vandalism cases.
- Roughly 3,000 federal immigration officers now operate in Minnesota, outnumbering prior deployments in Chicago and Los Angeles.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says President Trump is considering invoking the Insurrection Act if Governor Walz does not restore order.
- Why it matters: Residents describe an “invasion” of unmarked cars and door-to-door encounters, while local leaders demand ICE leave the city.
National Agents Tapped for Minneapolis
The bureau’s call, first reported by Bloomberg, was confirmed by two sources who reviewed internal messages. The first source is a law-enforcement official familiar with the directives; the second has seen the texts and outlined the expected duties.
Agents who volunteer will focus on:
- Assault on federal officer (AFO) cases
- Vandalism and theft from FBI vehicles
The request remains voluntary, and no mass surge has been ordered, the sources told News Of Fort Worth.
An FBI spokesperson declined to comment.
Escalating Federal Presence
Minnesota is experiencing its largest-ever federal immigration surge. The current footprint of about 3,000 ICE officers exceeds previous operations in Democratic-led cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles, according to the analysis.
Residents report:
- Unmarked cars idling on neighborhood streets
- Agents visible at stores, parking lots, and going door to door
- A feeling of “invasion,” as one resident described it
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other local officials have publicly called for ICE to withdraw.
Political Reaction
President Donald Trump last week labeled protesters “professional agitators and insurrectionists” and threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reinforced that stance Thursday, stating, “If anything doesn’t change with Governor Walz, I don’t anticipate that the streets will get any safer or more peaceful.”
Key Takeaways
- The FBI is seeking volunteers, not issuing orders, for temporary Minneapolis assignments.
- The surge of about 3,000 ICE officers is unprecedented for the region.
- Local and federal tensions are rising as demonstrations continue over the Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Good.
- The standoff could escalate if the White House invokes the Insurrection Act.
