Republicans Call on Trump To Arrest Walz If He Deploys Natl. Guard Against Feds

Republican lawmakers are calling on President Donald J. Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signaled he may deploy the state’s National Guard in response to federal immigration enforcement operations.

“Invoke the Insurrection Act. Arrest Tim Walz,” Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., wrote in a blunt post on X Wednesday night.

Miller’s remarks reflect growing alarm among Republicans following Walz’s suggestion that he could mobilize the Minnesota National Guard to counter President Trump’s deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents — a move critics say amounts to open defiance of federal authority.

Walz’s comments came in the aftermath of a deadly confrontation in Minneapolis, where an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old Nicole Good after she attempted to block agents in the street and struck one officer with her vehicle during an enforcement operation.

“We do not need any further help from the federal government. To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you’ve done enough. I’ve issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard,” Walz said during a press event.

“We have soldiers in training and prepared to be deployed if necessary. I remind you, a warning order is a heads-up for folks,” Walz added. “Minnesota will not allow our community to be used as a prop in a national political fight.”

Under Minnesota law, the governor does have authority to deploy the National Guard for the “defense or relief of the state, the enforcement of the law, [or] the protection of persons.” But Republican lawmakers argue that using state forces to oppose federal law enforcement crosses a constitutional red line.

Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., questioned how Walz’s remarks could be interpreted as anything other than an escalation.

“If he says with that intent to oppose — you’re bringing in military force. Let’s lay that out. I’m going to bring out military force to oppose a federal armed force. What does that sound like to the average person? Kind of like you want to go to war,” McCormick told Fox News.

“I don’t know how else to take that,” he continued. “That does not give me any indication other than you want start some stuff. And when I say ‘stuff’ I’m being very polite.”

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., issued an even starker warning, drawing a historical parallel.

“The last time they did that was at Fort Sumter and it started the Civil War,” Van Orden said, referencing the 1861 clash between Confederate and Union forces.

“If a state militia acts against the federal government that is actually a civil war. So that guy needs to shut his d-mn mouth now because he is calling for civil war. [Tim] Walz is an absolute moron,” he added.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., emphasized the constitutional stakes in her own statement.

“Someone remind him: Donald Trump is the Commander in Chief. And federal authority supersedes state authority. That’s not an opinion, that’s the Constitution,” Mace said.

“What Walz is threatening has a name: insurrection. Mr. President, the law is on your side. Use it,” she added.

The showdown comes as ICE has sharply criticized Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over sanctuary-style policies following the arrest of a convicted illegal immigrant sex offender in the city.

ICE confirmed that agents arrested Mahad Abdulkadir Yusuf, whom authorities identified as a Somali national unlawfully present in the United States, Fox News reported. Yusuf was convicted in 2016 of first-degree criminal sexual conduct after forcing a victim to perform oral sex on multiple occasions.

According to ICE, Yusuf remained free in Minneapolis for years despite his conviction and immigration status. Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported that agents had previously attempted to arrest Yusuf at his residence but were blocked when a building manager denied them access to the apartment.

As President Trump’s administration intensifies immigration enforcement nationwide, the clash with Minnesota’s Democratic leadership is shaping up to be a defining test of federal authority, constitutional order, and the rule of law.