Pentagon Prepares Troops for Possible Deployment Amid Minnesota Immigration Tensions
In response to escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, the Pentagon has put about 1,500 active-duty soldiers on standby for potential deployment. Two defense officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the plans, confirmed the orders issued to Army’s 11th Airborne Division’s infantry battalions.
The unit, based in Alaska and known for its expertise in arctic conditions, is prepared to move to Minnesota if President Donald Trump decides to activate the Insurrection Act. This 19th-century law permits the use of active duty troops for law enforcement purposes.
This development follows President Trump’s recent threats to employ the Insurrection Act to address protests against his administration’s immigration policies. In an official statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell did not refute the deployment orders, affirming the military’s readiness to follow the President’s directives.
The news of the Pentagon’s preparations was initially reported by ABC News. On Thursday, Trump took to social media to suggest he might invoke the 1807 law unless Minnesota’s leadership stops what he described as “professional agitators and insurrectionists” targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) personnel.
However, the following day, Trump seemed to reconsider, expressing to reporters at the White House that using the act wasn’t necessary “right now,” although he emphasized its powerful nature.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has periodically threatened to activate the Insurrection Act. A notable instance was in 2020 during protests after the death of George Floyd. The most recent invocation of the law was by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 to control unrest in Los Angeles post the Rodney King verdict.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has publicly appealed to President Trump to avoid deploying additional troops, urging a reduction in tensions. “I’m making a direct appeal to the President: Let’s turn the temperature down. Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are,” Walz stated on social media last week.
