In fact, Donald Trump wants to make Canada the 51st US state. In Minnesota, however, they are now doing the exact opposite: they want to join Canada: “Minnesota would be better off today if it belonged to Canada“, former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura said on the Canadian television station CBC (CBC).
A new protest initiative is gaining momentum in the US state - Minnesota to leave the United States and join Canada as its eleventh province, writes the German public media ARD.
The Premier of the neighboring Canadian province of Ontario, Doug Ford, would not object to such a development. He previously opposed Trump's demand that Canada become the 51st US state, coming up with a counter-proposal: "How about we buy Alaska, and also Minnesota and Minneapolis?" he asked rhetorically.
Minnesota to become "Minnetoba"
Now this controversy is gaining new relevance in light of the actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis: stickers are being distributed in the state calling for Minnesota to be renamed "Minnetoba" - by analogy with the neighboring Canadian province of Manitoba.
Jesse Ventura is a spokesman for the protest initiative and one of Minnesota's most prominent citizens. The legendary wrestler won the Minnesota governorship election as an independent in 1998 and has governed the state for four years. He has known Trump since he was a professional wrestler. He has a clear recommendation for Minnesota politicians: “Stay strong and don't give this guy anything.”
Trump sees any retreat as a sign of weakness, Ventura told Canadian broadcaster CBC. That's why Minnesota should threaten him with leaving the United States: “This cowardly draft dodger needs to learn that Minnesota doesn't give up. And that he's now chosen the wrong state,”, the German public media quoted him as saying.
Smart, but still unrealistic
Disappointed Minnesotans are putting out additional arguments online for joining Canada. Minnesota shares a border with and has good neighborly relations with two Canadian provinces: Ontario and Manitoba. Like Canadians, Minnesotans love icy winters, ice hockey, and the social system. Last but not least, the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are located even further north than Toronto, Canada, according to ARD, some of the central arguments of supporters of the idea of Minnesota becoming Canadian.
Minnesota as the 11th province of Canada - this is indeed a clever protest initiative. Which, however, will remain just an idea. Because after the Civil War in the US, there was a Supreme Court decision in 1869 that no state could leave the federation on its own initiative.
ICE agents are being withdrawn from Minneapolis
In the meantime, it became clear that ICE will reduce the number of its agents in the state of Minnesota. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Commissioner Tom Homan, known as President Donald Trump's "border czar", has announced that he is immediately withdrawing 700 officers from the ICE operation in Minneapolis, the BBC reported. He acknowledged that the operation was not perfect and said that the focus would now be on those who are in the US illegally, the British publication added.