Approximately 1,500 U.S. active-duty soldiers have been placed on standby for potential deployment to Minneapolis, according to defense officials, as the city grapples with escalating protests against federal immigration enforcement. The soldiers, from the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division, are prepared to deploy if President Donald Trump decides to use military personnel under the Insurrection Act, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders.
The standby order comes amid ongoing demonstrations sparked by the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent earlier this month. Good’s death has fueled nationwide outrage and intensified protests in Minneapolis, where crowds have gathered in subfreezing temperatures to oppose the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration operations. Federal agents, including ICE and Customs and Border Protection personnel, have been deployed in large numbers, leading to tense standoffs with protesters.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has condemned the potential military deployment, calling it an “invasion” and “completely unconstitutional.” In interviews, Frey expressed frustration over the existing federal presence, stating that the city feels occupied by thousands of ICE agents. Similarly, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has mobilized the state National Guard, though troops are not yet on city streets, to support public safety and ensure peaceful assembly.
Legal battles have added complexity to the situation. A federal judge, Katherine Menendez, issued a preliminary injunction limiting the actions of federal agents, prohibiting arrests or the use of crowd-control measures like pepper spray against peaceful protesters. However, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem dismissed the ruling as “ridiculous,” asserting that agents already operate within those constraints. The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating Walz and Frey for possible obstruction of federal law enforcement, accusations that Democrats label as politically motivated.
On the ground, protests have been largely peaceful but marked by occasional confrontations. Over the weekend, counter-demonstrators outnumbered a small pro-ICE rally led by far-right activist Jake Lang, who claimed to have been assaulted. Federal agents in riot gear have been observed detaining some protesters, though details remain unclear. The city has implemented security measures, including road closures, to manage the gatherings.
The situation highlights deep divisions over immigration policy and the use of federal force in domestic affairs. Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law, raises constitutional questions about military involvement in law enforcement. As protests continue, the standby order for active-duty troops underscores the administration’s willingness to escalate its response, while local officials vow to resist what they see as federal overreach.
Looking ahead, the focus remains on whether the soldiers will be deployed and how ongoing legal challenges will shape federal tactics. With temperatures plunging and tensions simmering, Minneapolis faces a precarious balance between maintaining order and upholding civil liberties. The outcome could set precedents for federal-state relations and protest management in an increasingly polarized political climate.
