Approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers from Alaska, specializing in cold-weather operations, along with an unspecified number of active-duty military police from North Carolina, have been ordered to prepare for potential deployment to Minneapolis. These orders come amidst ongoing protests related to immigration enforcement and a recent fatal shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. While President Donald Trump has considered invoking the Insurrection Act for such deployments, no final decision has been announced, and Minnesota's state National Guard has also been directed to prepare for activation.
Deployment Preparations
Two U.S. Army infantry battalions from the 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska, comprising approximately 1,500 soldiers, were placed on a prepare-to-deploy status. Additionally, an active-duty Army military police brigade from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has received a similar order, preparing at least several hundred soldiers for potential mobilization. A U.S. defense official confirmed that these forces represent an option for the President, but no decision regarding their deployment has been made.
The Pentagon declined immediate comment on the orders, with one official describing the information as "pre-decisional." Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the "Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon."
Context of Protests and Federal Presence
The potential deployments are occurring amid ongoing anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstrations in Minneapolis. Tensions have risen following an incident on January 7, when an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three. The incident occurred during an interaction where she was ordered to exit her vehicle and then drove away.
Since early last week, President Trump has deployed nearly 3,000 federal agents from ICE and Border Patrol to Minneapolis and neighboring St. Paul. These deployments are part of broader federal interventions, primarily in cities governed by Democratic politicians. The Department of Homeland Security has described this as its largest operation of its type in history.
Presidential Authority and Statements
President Trump had issued a statement threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow the deployment of military forces if state officials do not prevent protesters from targeting immigration officials. One source later reported that President Trump retracted this consideration.
The Insurrection Act is a federal statute that grants the president authority to deploy military forces or federalize National Guard troops within the United States to suppress domestic uprisings. If active-duty personnel are deployed under this act, they are permitted to engage in civilian law enforcement. A president can also deploy active-duty forces for certain domestic purposes, such as protecting federal property, without invoking the act.
President Trump has cited similar rationales for previous deployments of troops in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Memphis, and Portland, Oregon, to address crime and protect federal property and personnel. He previously sent Marines to Los Angeles and announced the removal of the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland after facing legal challenges. The president has also referenced an alleged scandal involving the theft of federal funds for social-welfare programs in Minnesota, specifically highlighting the state's Somali immigrant community, as a basis for sending immigration agents.
State-Level Response
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has directed the Minnesota National Guard to prepare for a possible deployment to support local law enforcement and emergency management agencies. The National Guard has not yet been deployed.
The Minnesota National Guard stated that its members are focused on protecting life, preserving property, and ensuring First Amendment rights. If activated, Guardsmen would wear yellow reflective vests for identification. Minnesota officials have urged demonstrators to maintain orderly and peaceful conduct during protests.
Reactions and Legal Perspectives
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey commented that sending military into the city would be a "shocking step." He stated that crime rates in Minneapolis are down and additional federal agents are not needed.
Local leaders have accused the president of federal overreach and of exaggerating isolated instances of violence to justify military deployments. Joseph Nunn, an attorney with the Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program, characterized the Insurrection Act as an emergency tool intended for situations where civilian authorities are overwhelmed, not simply to suppress protests. Nunn suggested that invoking the act in the current circumstances would be a "flagrant abuse."