“An Invasion by Federal Agents”: Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Condemns Deadly ICE Shooting and Vows to Fight the “Illegal” Siege of Minneapolis

In the frigid streets of Minneapolis, the air is thick not just with the biting cold of a Minnesota winter, but with the palpable tension of a constitutional crisis that has turned deadly. The conflict between the state of Minnesota and the federal government has escalated from legal briefs and courtroom arguments to armed confrontations and bloodshed on the pavement. In a breaking development that has sent shockwaves through the nation, reports have confirmed that federal agents, operating under the controversial “Operation Metro Surge,” have shot and killed a man in South Minneapolis.

The incident, described by witnesses as a brutal beating followed by multiple gunshots, serves as a grim inflection point in the ongoing standoff between the administration of Donald Trump and the Democratic leadership of Minnesota. It was against this backdrop of chaos and fear that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sat down for an exclusive and fiery interview with Katie Phang, a conversation that was dramatically cut short as the violence unfolded in real-time.

“Minnesota Has Had It”: A State Under Siege

The interview began with a somber confirmation of the latest tragedy. “Federal agents were beating a man in South Minneapolis,” Phang reported, relaying the grisly details that had just surfaced. “Then one or more of those ICE agents shot multiple times into the man, killing him.”

The reaction from the state’s leadership was swift and furious. Governor Tim Walz, a figure who has increasingly found himself on the front lines of this federal-state conflict, reportedly contacted the White House immediately, declaring, “Minnesota has had it. This is sickening.”

For Attorney General Keith Ellison, the shooting was not an isolated incident but the inevitable result of a policy he describes as an “invasion.” Throughout the interview, Ellison did not mince words, characterizing the federal presence in the Twin Cities not as a law enforcement operation, but as a “reign of terror” perpetrated by “masked men with guns who are arrogant and hateful.”

“Operation Metro Surge,” the federal initiative ostensibly designed to combat crime and immigration violations, was framed by Ellison as an “unconstitutional, illegal, and highly damaging enterprise.” He argued that the operation has done nothing but inflict pain on the community, hurting businesses, terrorizing residents, and now, claiming lives.

“It is an invasion by federal agents,” Ellison stated bluntly. “The cities are under siege.”

The 10th Amendment and the Fight for Sovereignty

At the heart of Ellison’s legal and moral argument is a principle that often gathers dust in civics textbooks but has now become a rallying cry in the streets of St. Paul: the 10th Amendment.

Ellison, a former Congressman and a seasoned prosecutor, took the opportunity to deliver a passionate defense of federalism. He reminded viewers that the United States is a collection of sovereign entities that predate the federal government itself. “The states existed as political entities before there was a United States,” he explained. “They only came into the United States based on an agreement that we would retain authority over things that were our business.”

This distinction is critical to the state’s legal strategy. Minnesota has filed a lawsuit arguing that the federal government is commandeering state resources and overstepping its limited jurisdiction. Ellison pointed out that general policing powers—the authority to maintain law and order, prosecute crimes, and license professionals—belong inherently to the states, not the federal government.

“The federal government cannot commandeer or overreach the states,” Ellison asserted. He noted that the only legal justification for deploying active-duty troops or federal agents for domestic policing is the Insurrection Act, which presupposes a state of rebellion. “We don’t have one around here,” he quipped dryly. “The only damage being inflicted on our state is the deliberate, active harm perpetrated by the federal government. Full stop.”

“Domestic Terrorists”: The Weaponization of Fear

Perhaps the most chilling segment of the interview involved a viral video clip that has been circulating on social media. The footage shows federal agents confronting a citizen who is recording their activities. When the citizen asks why their information is being taken down, the agent replies with a terrifying casualness: “Cuz we have a nice little database… And now you’re considered a domestic terrorist.”

This weaponization of the term “domestic terrorist” against civilians exercising their First Amendment rights struck a nerve with the Attorney General. He called the tactic “outrageous” and promised legal action. However, his advice to the public was stark and devoid of sugar-coating.

“I wish I could come on your show and say, ‘Do this and everything will be perfectly fine,'” Ellison admitted. “But there is no easy, safe way back to democracy.”

He warned that opposing what he termed “fascism” is inherently dangerous. “The fascist is a killer and a liar, and you should know that,” he said. Yet, he implored Minnesotans to continue recording, to continue bearing witness, because without evidence, there can be no justice. “If they scare you into even recording them, then they’re going to do atrocities and we won’t even have any evidence of it.”

This call to courage was underscored by a shocking report that even law enforcement officers are not immune to the federal aggression. Ellison discussed an incident in Brooklyn Park where an off-duty police officer, attempting to record an interaction to ensure safety, had a gun pulled on her by federal agents. If a badge cannot protect you from the “surge,” Ellison implied, then the rule of law has truly fractured.

The Legal Battle: A David vs. Goliath Struggle

The legal front of this war is being fought in the courtrooms of the 8th Circuit. Ellison highlighted a significant victory in the lower courts, where Federal Judge Katherine Menendez issued an 83-page order prohibiting many of the tactics being used by ICE, including the retaliation against protesters and the use of chemical munitions.

However, in a move that illustrates the uphill battle facing the state, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a one-sentence order pausing Judge Menendez’s ruling while the Trump administration appeals. For many observers, this stay was a demoralizing blow, reinforcing the feeling that the courts may not save them in time.

Ellison addressed this cynicism head-on. He chastised those who give in to despair, calling them “spirit killers.” “If you’re telling me that we can’t do anything because somebody might not let us, I’m telling you, please just leave,” he said with palpable frustration. “I’m busy trying to save the state.”

His message was clear: litigation is slow, and rights are not self-enforcing guarantees. They are merely tools that allow for recourse after a violation has occurred. The fight, therefore, requires patience, resilience, and an “undaunted” spirit.

The Human Cost of “The Surge”

Beyond the legal arguments, Ellison painted a picture of the human toll “Operation Metro Surge” is taking on Minnesota. He described a community living in fear, where commercial traffic has slowed, businesses are hurting, and the cost of living is rising due to the instability.

He also debunked the administration’s narrative that the operation is targeting the “worst of the worst” criminals. According to Ellison, federal agents are largely picking up individuals who were already in state custody—people who had already been charged, convicted, and were serving their time. In one instance involving rural Cottonwood County, ICE accused local officials of non-cooperation for releasing inmates, despite the fact that ICE had been notified and failed to pick them up.

“They’re claiming credit for dealing with the worst of the worst who had already been dealt with,” Ellison explained, exposing the operation as a performative political stunt rather than a genuine public safety measure.

A Call to Action for November

As the interview drew to a close—before the emergency forced his departure—Ellison pivoted to the political reality. He urged viewers to remember this moment when they head to the polls.

“Please do keep account of the people who stood with the Trump onslaught against Minnesota,” he pleaded. “Remember that there were people who actually aided and abetted Trump attacking our state, taking our money from us, sending armed masked men to attack us.”

He warned against the “circular firing squad”—the tendency within opposition movements to turn on each other rather than focusing on the external threat. In a time of crisis, he argued, unity and a clear memory of who stood where are the only paths forward.

Conclusion: The Unfinished Conversation

The interview ended abruptly. “You may be wondering what just happened to Attorney General Ellison,” Phang told the audience as the feed cut. “There was an incredibly urgent emergency concerning his work.”

That emergency, we now know, was likely the fatal shooting that opened the broadcast. It was a poetic, if tragic, end to the segment—a reminder that while the lawyers argue and the pundits analyze, the violence on the ground continues unabated.

Keith Ellison’s words, however, remain. They serve as both a warning and a roadmap. Minnesota is currently ground zero for a test of American democracy. Can a state protect its citizens from the federal government? Can the 10th Amendment withstand the pressure of a “surge”? And can the people maintain their resolve in the face of “masked men with guns”?

As Ellison said, “We can go longer than them.” The coming days and weeks will determine if that confidence is well-founded, or if the “invasion” of Minneapolis is just the beginning of a new, darker chapter in American history.