Pentagon Places 1,500 Soldiers On Alert Amid Minnesota Protests
1 week ago
The Pentagon has ordered roughly 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota, two U.S. officials told Reuters. The move comes after President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to protests against federal immigration operations.
The troops, who specialize in cold-weather operations, are assigned to Army infantry battalions under the 11th Airborne Division based in Alaska. Officials say the units are on “prepare-to-deploy” orders in case violence escalates, but it is not yet clear if any will be sent.
Trump had warned Minnesota officials to curb protesters targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, saying he would “institute the INSURRECTION ACT” if the unrest continued. The federal law allows the president to deploy military forces or federalize National Guard troops to address domestic disturbances.
Since early last week, nearly 3,000 federal agents from ICE and Border Patrol have been sent to Minneapolis and St. Paul, where confrontations have intensified following the death of U.S. citizen Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE agent on January 7.
The troops, who specialize in cold-weather operations, are assigned to Army infantry battalions under the 11th Airborne Division based in Alaska. Officials say the units are on “prepare-to-deploy” orders in case violence escalates, but it is not yet clear if any will be sent.
Trump had warned Minnesota officials to curb protesters targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, saying he would “institute the INSURRECTION ACT” if the unrest continued. The federal law allows the president to deploy military forces or federalize National Guard troops to address domestic disturbances.
Since early last week, nearly 3,000 federal agents from ICE and Border Patrol have been sent to Minneapolis and St. Paul, where confrontations have intensified following the death of U.S. citizen Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE agent on January 7.
