US Pentagon orders troops to prepare for potential Minnesota deployment

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.

A pro-ICE rally organized by far-right activist Jake Lang in Minneapolis on Saturday was overwhelmed by hundreds of counterprotesters. Lang, who previously received clemency for January 6th-related charges, planned the demonstration to protest immigration policies and express anti-Islam and anti-Somali sentiments. The counterprotesters outnumbered Lang's supporters, disrupting the rally and chasing them away, with Lang reportedly sustaining injuries. Minnesota's National Guard was mobilized by Governor Tim Walz to support law enforcement and ensure peaceful assembly, though they were not deployed. The rally occurred amidst ongoing protests in the Twin Cities against increased immigration enforcement by the Department of Homeland Security.

Around 1,500 soldiers in Alaska are on standby for potential deployment to Minneapolis amid ongoing anti-ICE demonstrations. The possible deployment is an option for the US president, though no decision has been made. The protests were sparked by recent ICE activity and the death of Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE agent earlier this month. A federal judge has limited crowd control tactics that ICE agents can use against peaceful protesters. Minnesota's National Guard has been mobilized, and other law enforcement officers have been deployed to Minneapolis in anticipation of further demonstrations.

In January 2026, President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to Minnesota in response to ongoing protests in Minneapolis. The protests were triggered by two shootings involving federal agents within a week. The first shooting resulted in the death of Renee Good, a US citizen, by an ICE agent, while the second involved an ICE agent wounding a Venezuelan man. Trump accused Minnesota politicians of failing to control "agitators" and defended ICE's actions related to his immigration crackdown. The situation escalated with federal officers using tear gas against protesters who responded with rocks and fireworks.

An ICE agent shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis, prompting protests and calls for ICE to leave the city. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the agent was pursuing the man, who was allegedly in the US illegally, when an altercation occurred. The DHS claims the agent fired in self-defense after being "attacked" by the man and two others, who are now in custody. The FBI is investigating the incident. This shooting follows the recent death of a woman shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week, which is also under FBI investigation. Minneapolis city officials and the mayor have condemned the shootings and the presence of ICE in the city, accusing them of creating chaos.