Pentagon puts 1,500 troops on alert as Minnesota protests escalate
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- Pentagon places 1,500 troops on alert for possible deployment in Minnesota amid escalating protests.
- Tensions rise after ICE officer kills a local resident, prompting Trump to threaten use of the Insurrection Act.
The Pentagon has ordered roughly 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for potential deployment in Minnesota, US media reported Sunday, as protests intensify over the federal immigration enforcement campaign.
Officials, speaking anonymously to The Washington Post, said the military units are on heightened alert to respond if violence escalates. The soldiers are part of the 11th Airborne Division, trained for operations in cold-weather conditions, and stationed in Alaska.
Read more: US judge restricts federal agents over Minnesota protests
A White House statement confirmed the readiness, emphasizing it is standard for the Department of Defense to prepare for any presidential decision. The Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
Trump Threatens Insurrection Act
President Donald Trump warned last Thursday that he could invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops if state authorities fail to protect immigration officers from protesters. His threat followed a surge in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Minnesota.
"If corrupt politicians in Minnesota do not enforce the law and prevent professional instigators and rebels from attacking immigration officers who are simply doing their job, I will invoke the Insurrection Act," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Protests Ignite After Fatal Shooting
Tensions escalated in Minneapolis after an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good, a US citizen and mother of three, on January 7. Federal authorities have since sent nearly 3,000 immigration and border agents to Minneapolis and neighboring St. Paul, targeting cities led by Democratic officials.
Read more: Minnesota sues Trump administration to end "dangerous, illegal" ICE "invasion"
Trump has justified troop deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, DC, Memphis, and Portland, Oregon, as measures to combat crime and protect federal property and personnel. However, he recently withdrew the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, citing operational setbacks and legal challenges.
Local leaders have criticized the president, claiming he is overstepping federal authority and exaggerating isolated incidents to justify military intervention.
Insurrection Act Authority
The Insurrection Act grants the US president the power to deploy the military or National Guard within states to suppress uprisings. It applies if there are “unlawful obstructions, assemblies, or rebellions” against federal authority, allowing troops to enforce laws or quell civil unrest.
The situation remains fluid as Minnesota officials and federal authorities continue to navigate the escalating protests.
