JAN 18 – The United States military has moved to place roughly 1,500 active duty soldiers on standby for a potential deployment to Minnesota, amid escalating unrest tied to federal immigration enforcement actions. The decision comes as protests continue across the state, particularly in Minneapolis and St. Paul, following a surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and a deadly confrontation involving a federal agent.
While no final order has been issued to send troops into the state, defense officials say the move reflects precautionary planning as political tensions, public anger, and security concerns intensify. The situation has renewed debate over the possible use of the Insurrection Act and the limits of federal power during domestic unrest.
Rising Tensions and Federal Response
According to reporting by major US media outlets including The Washington Post and ABC News, the soldiers placed on alert belong to two US Army infantry battalions assigned to the 11th Airborne Division, a unit based in Alaska known for its expertise in cold weather operations. Defense officials cited by these outlets said the troops were given “prepare to deploy” orders, a step that allows the Pentagon to act quickly if conditions on the ground worsen.
The White House has sought to downplay the significance of the move. In a statement quoted by The Washington Post, officials said it is standard practice for the Department of Defense to remain prepared for any decision the president may choose to make. Neither the Pentagon nor the White House offered immediate public responses to further media inquiries.
President Donald Trump has taken a hard line as protests against immigration enforcement have spread. On Thursday, he warned that he could invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota authorities failed to protect federal immigration officers from demonstrators. The warning followed an increase in ICE and Border Patrol personnel sent to the Minneapolis St. Paul area, a deployment that has drawn criticism from local leaders and civil rights advocates.
The president’s comments were posted on his Truth Social account, where he accused Minnesota politicians of allowing what he described as organized agitators to attack ICE personnel. Trump said federal officers were “only trying to do their job” and framed the protests as a threat to law and order.
Tensions escalated sharply after the fatal shooting of Renee Good on January 7. Good, a US citizen and mother of three, was killed by an ICE agent during an encounter in Minneapolis. Authorities said she was shot as she attempted to drive away after being ordered to exit her vehicle. The incident has fueled public outrage and intensified confrontations between residents and federal officers, according to local reporting and statements from community leaders.
In response to growing unrest, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has authorized the mobilization of the state’s National Guard. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety announced on social media that Guard units were being deployed to support local law enforcement and emergency management agencies. State officials said the goal was to maintain public safety and prevent further loss of life, not to suppress peaceful protest.
The governor’s decision comes amid heightened political pressure. The US Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation involving Walz, adding another layer of tension to an already volatile situation. State leaders have accused the federal government of overreach, arguing that isolated incidents are being exaggerated to justify a show of force.
Trump has defended his actions by pointing to alleged misuse of federal funds in Minnesota, particularly money intended for social welfare programs. He has repeatedly linked these claims to immigration enforcement, often highlighting the state’s Somali immigrant community. Advocacy groups have criticized this rhetoric, saying it unfairly targets minority communities and risks inflaming racial and religious tensions.
Over the past several weeks, nearly 3,000 federal immigration agents have been sent to Minneapolis and St. Paul, according to figures cited by multiple media outlets. The deployments are part of a broader strategy that has seen federal forces sent to other major cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Memphis, and Portland. Trump has said these actions are necessary to combat crime and protect federal property and personnel.
However, the administration has faced legal and political challenges in several of those cities. Earlier this month, Trump confirmed that National Guard units had been withdrawn from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland following court rulings and resistance from local governments. Critics say these reversals undermine the argument that large scale troop deployments are essential.
At the center of the debate is the Insurrection Act, a centuries old federal law that allows the president to deploy the military domestically under specific circumstances. The law can be invoked when there are unlawful obstructions or rebellions against federal authority that state governments are unable or unwilling to control. If triggered, it would allow active duty forces or federalized National Guard units to take part in law enforcement activities, a move that is rare and highly controversial.
Legal experts note that while the president has broad discretion under the act, its use has historically been limited due to concerns about civil liberties and the militarization of domestic policing. Civil rights organizations warn that invoking the act in response to protests could set a dangerous precedent and escalate violence rather than contain it.
For now, the 1,500 soldiers remain on standby, and it is unclear whether they will ultimately be deployed. Defense officials have emphasized that no final decision has been made. Meanwhile, protests continue, community leaders call for calm, and Minnesota authorities work to balance public safety with the right to dissent.