By The South Asia Times

WASHINGTON -  Political and security tensions escalated across the United States after federal immigration enforcement operations ordered under President Donald Trump led to multiple deadly incidents, widespread protests, and the deployment of the Minnesota National Guard.

Authorities in Minnesota confirmed on Saturday that a man shot dead earlier this month during a federal law enforcement operation in Minneapolis was a U.S. citizen, marking the third fatal shooting involving federal agents in the city this month.

The killings have triggered mass protests and renewed scrutiny of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

Minnesota Governor Timothy Walz confirmed that the National Guard has been activated and staged to assist local authorities following unrest outside federal buildings in Minneapolis.

“Yes, the answer is yes,” Walz said when asked whether the Guard had been deployed. “What we saw was a man killed, chaos created, protesters pushed back with gas indiscriminately, and then federal agents leaving the scene. We’re left to clean up.”

Walz acknowledged public anger and confusion over which agencies were involved. “I understand the frustration. I understand the anger,” he said, stressing that the Guard’s role is to support local law enforcement, including the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the State Patrol.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he reviewed video footage showing what he described as masked federal agents beating a resident before fatally shooting him.

“How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” Frey asked. “This is federal violence in the streets, and it’s spiraling fast.”

Later video footage circulating online showed a convoy of Minnesota National Guard vehicles arriving near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, where protests had erupted earlier.

President Donald Trump, responding on his Truth Social platform, defended ICE operations and accused state and city leaders of obstructing federal law enforcement. He claimed local police had been prevented from assisting ICE officers and alleged large-scale financial fraud in Minnesota, accusations that state officials have strongly denied.

“LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB!” Trump wrote, asserting that thousands of undocumented immigrants had been arrested in Minnesota and blaming Democratic leaders for what he called “open border policies.”

Trump also announced emergency declarations for several U.S. states facing severe winter weather, including Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Kentucky, saying federal agencies were coordinating with governors to ensure public safety.

Civil rights groups and immigrant advocates say ICE has operated with unchecked authority, accusing agents of excessive force and lack of transparency. Federal authorities have not released full details of the recent shootings, saying investigations are ongoing.

As protests continue in Minneapolis, New York, and other cities, the standoff highlights a widening rift between Washington and several state governments over immigration enforcement, public safety, and the limits of federal power.