Residents in a Republican town near Minneapolis support Trump’s immigration operation despite fatal shootings and protests, highlighting a deep political divide.
BUFFALO: In the small Minnesota town of Buffalo, support for former president Donald Trump’s federal immigration crackdown remains strong.
The operation, centred in the liberal city of Minneapolis about 65 kilometres away, has sparked national outrage after federal agents shot and killed two US citizens last month.
Retiree Bob Rassat, 72, is a staunch supporter of the campaign. He described himself as ultra-conservative and said the “aliens, the illegals are not going to go without a fight.”
Rassat said he feels “bad about” the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti but does not “necessarily agree with all the tactics” used. He believes the two citizens “brought it on themselves” by not abiding by the law.
The town of 15,000 people overwhelmingly backed Trump in the last presidential election. Five American flags fly over Rassat’s home, which features a bench emblazoned with “God Bless America.”
Inside, two televisions are tuned to Fox News. The political contrast with nearby Minneapolis, a Democratic stronghold, is stark.
Eighty-year-old US Army veteran Lonny Martin agreed that Good and Pretti had “asked for it.” He believes Trump should invoke the Insurrection Act to send troops into the city.
“Then he can send US Army and Marines and SEALs,” Martin said. He expressed no problem with Trump’s policies aside from the bid to acquire Greenland.
Other residents echoed the sentiment that the crackdown was necessary. A 65-year-old retired construction worker named Dave criticised the protests in Minneapolis.
“If they would have just let ICE come in and do their job, they would have been gone four weeks ago,” he said, referring to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
When asked about the fatal shootings, Dave, who identifies as an independent, said “that’s another story…We’ll let the courts decide that.”
Not all local residents offer unwavering support. Lisa, a 60-year-old independent from a nearby town, does not support killing people or “vigilante-type measures.”
She argued that if Minnesota’s government had been doing its job, federal agents would not have needed to intervene. Lisa works in the financial sector.
Democratic voter Sherry, 78, provided a dissenting voice in the predominantly Republican area. “This town here is very red. Very,” she said.
She criticised the immigration operation, stating “ICE, as far as I’m concerned, the only thing they’re doing is a number job.” Sherry expressed disbelief at the current situation, asking “who would have thought even five years ago that this would happen now?”
The Trump administration has vowed to continue its mass deportation campaign despite the protests. The operation has also led to the detention of US citizens, Native Americans and refugees awaiting permanent resident status.