Minneapolis Mayor Warns: 'Next City Could Be Any'. Trump reaches deal with Democrats to avoid government shutdown
The American city of Minneapolis is at the center of a political and social crisis generated by the Trump administration's offensive against illegal immigration. The city's mayor, Jacob Frey, warned that Minneapolis had been subjected to an “invasion” by federal agents and sent a harsh message to other cities that could follow, SkyNews notes.
The mayor's statements come in the context of the intensification of the operations carried out by the ICE, after two residents of the city were killed by federal agents. According to local authorities, fear has set in among the population, with some residents even turning to weapons instructors for self-defense.
In this tense climate, the head of the administration for securing the border announced that ICE will continue “targeted operations”, but he specified that one is being worked on “retirement plan” in Minnesota. It involves the reduction of street interventions and the concentration of agents' activity in prisons and detention centers. “More agents in prisons means fewer agents on the streets,” the official explained.
The crisis in Minneapolis also had echoes in Washington. Democrats have blocked a broad package of government funding, bringing the United States closer to an administrative gridlock, in protest at the Trump administration's immigration policies. They called for the elimination of funds allocated to the Department of Homeland Security, of which ICE is a part.
Later, according to sources cited by the American media, Donald Trump reached an agreement with the Democratic leaders. The deal provides for two weeks of temporary funding for the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the advancement of several budget bills to avoid a government shutdown.
Amidst these events, a recent poll shows that the US president's approval rating has fallen to 37%, with half of Americans believing that immigration measures have been tougher than expected.
The tensions also have an impact on the local political scene. In Minnesota, the immigration crisis has weighed on the gubernatorial race following the withdrawal of Democratic incumbent Tim Walz amid a major fraud scandal. Senator Amy Klobuchar has announced her candidacy, promising she will “stand up for what is right”.
The situation in Minneapolis generated reactions including in the cultural environment. Bruce Springsteen recently released a song dedicated to the two victims, describing the city as the scene of one “act of state terror” and harshly criticizing the Trump administration and ICE leadership.
