Pentagon readies 1,500 troops for potential Minnesota deployment, US officials say

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by ReutersJanuary 18, 2026 at 11:26 PM

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The Pentagon has ordered 1,500 active-duty soldiers in Alaska to prepare for potential deployment to Minnesota amid escalating protests against the government's deportation drive. The order comes after President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces if protests targeting immigration officials are not stopped. Tensions have risen in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a civilian by an ICE officer on January 7th. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated that deploying the military would worsen the situation, as the city already has 3,000 federal immigration and Border Patrol officers dealing with the protests. It remains unclear whether the troops will actually be deployed.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

US Border Patrol 40% Renee Good 50% Jonathan Ross 50% Insurrection Act 60% US Army 60% Minneapolis 60% Jacob Frey ×260% Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ×270% United States 70% Pentagon 80% Donald Trump 80% Minnesota ×390%

Keywords

military deployment 90% protests 80% ice 70% immigration and customs enforcement 70% minnesota 70% federal agents 60% insurrection act 50% us army 50% deportation 40%