FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche visited Minneapolis amid protests over a planned federal surge after a deadly shooting involving an ICE officer. The Trump administration plans to send about 1,000 additional CBP agents, with some extra FBI personnel in smaller numbers. Patel said his team is “working 24/7”, reported multiple arrests and warned of further arrests for attacks on law enforcement and vandalism.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy AG Visit Minneapolis as Planned Federal Agent Surge Sparks Protests
FBI Director Kash Patel attends an event honoring the 2025 Stanley Cup Champions, The Florida Panthers, in the East Room at the White House in Washington on Thurday, January 15. - uri Gripas/Abaca/Sipa USA/AP
FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche traveled to Minneapolis on Friday, Patel said in a post on his X account.
The visit comes amid heightened tensions after a deadly shooting that involved an ICE officer and a planned influx of federal personnel to the city. Activists have protested the arrival of federal agents, and local leaders and Trump administration officials are publicly at odds over how the agents should operate.
Patel said his team is “working 24/7” to address violent unrest and to investigate the networks that allegedly fund criminal actors. In his post, he said federal teams have already made multiple arrests.
“We are working 24/7 here cracking down on violent rioters and investigating the funding networks supporting the criminal actors with multiple arrests already.” — Kash Patel (X)
According to sources cited by CNN, the Trump administration plans to deploy about 1,000 additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to Minneapolis following last week’s deadly shooting. Sources also said additional FBI personnel will join the response, though the number of FBI agents will be small relative to other agencies.
On Thursday, Patel flagged the arrest of an alleged member of the Latin Kings gang who is accused of stealing government property from an FBI vehicle during a recent violent demonstration. Patel warned there would be further arrests, saying, “any individual who attacks law enforcement or vandalizes federal property paid for by hardworking taxpayers will be found and arrested.”
Local-Federal Tensions
The visits and the planned surge come as city officials and federal authorities remain publicly at odds over tactics and jurisdiction. Local leaders have criticized aspects of the federal response, while federal officials say the additional personnel are needed to restore order and ensure public safety.
The situation remains fluid: officials from multiple agencies will be coordinating operations even as protests and public debate continue.
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