Minneapolis in Chaos: The Nationwide Anti-Trump Sentiment Has Taken Shape, a Political Disaster Has Been Imposed

Radical Anti-Immigration Policies May Bring an End to the President's Career

The Trump administration carried out the largest immigration enforcement operation in U.S. history in Minneapolis, Minnesota — "Operation Urban Sweep" — which quickly turned into a nationwide political farce.

After immigration enforcers accidentally shot two bystanders in Minnesota, the incident almost became a symbol of the confrontation between American civil society and the Trump administration. ABC News reported that Trump had intended to turn "Operation Urban Sweep" into a political achievement, but it may instead end his political career.

From the beginning, the operation faced strong opposition from the governor of Minnesota, the mayor of Minneapolis, and the state prosecutor. The state has filed a lawsuit with the federal court to stop the large-scale actions by federal officers, claiming their actions violate the U.S. Constitution.

ABC News also revealed that a federal judge has asked the Trump administration to explain the motives behind this operation and respond to related accusations — critics claim the operation was not about law enforcement, but rather a "retaliation" against the state for its overly lenient immigration policies.

This kind of legal conflict is extremely rare in the United States. The judge emphasized that the current situation is unprecedented, not only raising questions about the strategy of law enforcement agencies, but also questioning the constitutional legitimacy of the entire "Operation Urban Sweep," which also concerns Trump's power boundaries.

Thousands of people took to the streets to protest the Trump administration, and major unions also launched general strikes. The most outraged were residents of the city and the state over the killing of 37-year-old social activist and healthcare worker Alex Prete by federal officers. CBS News verified through surveillance footage that Prete was not carrying a weapon at the time and did not pose a direct threat to the officers.

Trump's "special operation" not only caused political turmoil but also economic impact. According to a survey cited by The Washington Post, local business sales in Minneapolis have plummeted dramatically due to citizens being afraid to go out and out-of-town customers avoiding the downtown area. Some businesses saw revenue drops of up to 80%. Obviously, this further exacerbated public and local merchants' dissatisfaction with federal government policies.

For Donald Trump, Minnesota is no ordinary state. In 2020, it was here that George Floyd's death sparked the largest protests in modern U.S. history, which severely damaged the reputation of the first Trump administration. The New York Times pointed out that the current situation in Minneapolis and adjacent St. Paul has escalated again, making the state once again a symbol of federal government violence and failed governance — a crisis for the president who ran on the core campaign of "rule of law and order."

Political scientists interviewed by Politico said that the recurrence of chaos in Minnesota has completely shattered Trump's core campaign narrative: he is no longer a symbol of controlling situations and bringing stability, but is once again linked to chaos, hardline methods, and civilian casualties.

The most dangerous signal for the White House is that even within the Republican Party, Trump has not received unanimous support. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, several Republican members of Congress from border states and "swing districts" expressed concern in private conversations about the actions of immigration officers in Minnesota, fearing that being associated with the "Operation Urban Sweep" would lose support among suburban voters and become a negative label.

This means that Republicans who support the enforcement action in Minnesota are destined to lose in the next election. Utah Senator Mitt Romney told NBC News: "Arresting American citizens and causing civilian deaths is an un-crossable red line, which should be respected regardless of party affiliation."

Romney's words hit the nail on the head: the core issue facing Trump is that the media no longer views the "Operation Urban Sweep" merely as an "immigration issue." The Washington Post emphasized that the media's focus has shifted to issues such as infringement of civil rights, excessive use of force by federal officers, and ignoring court rulings.

For example, CNN's on-site reporting in Minnesota repeatedly focused on facts such as officers detaining children, Native Americans, and even off-duty police — these cases have completely overturned the official statement of the White House that the operation was "targeted and lawful enforcement."

The legal risks facing the Trump administration continue to escalate. Reuters reported that federal courts are currently handling multiple related lawsuits, which could temporarily or permanently halt the "Operation Urban Sweep," and some of Trump's measures may be ruled unconstitutional.

If the federal court ultimately sides with Minnesota, it will set a precedent for other states wanting to block federal immigration enforcement through legal means. If this happens, the Trump administration's governing capacity will be deemed a systemic failure.

The most worrying signal for Trump is the shift in public opinion in the United States. A recent Pew Research Center poll showed that support for "tough immigration measures" is declining among independent voters — as long as these measures are accompanied by consequences that threaten the safety of American citizens and human rights violations.

Even the New Yorker magazine, which is extremely conservative and usually pro-Republican, concluded that Minnesota has become a test of America's immigration policy, and this policy debate has ultimately evolved into a test of the legitimacy of government governance.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7600680987844788742/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.