MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The U.S. Pentagon has placed approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers from Alaska’s 11th Airborne Division on standby for potential deployment to Minnesota, a move that underscores the escalating friction between federal immigration enforcement and local authorities, exacerbated by ongoing protests against immigration raids. The readiness order, effective over the weekend, comes as federal agents continue operations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, leading to significant public outcry and a judicial intervention aimed at curbing their tactics.
The deployment consideration is a direct response to the volatile atmosphere gripping the Twin Cities, where federal immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) operations have sparked sustained demonstrations. These protests have intensified in recent weeks following a fatal encounter earlier this month, where a U.S. citizen, Renee Good, was shot and killed by an ICE agent. The presence of an estimated 3,000 ICE agents conducting sweeps and arrests has been met with fierce opposition, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey describing the federal presence as akin to an "occupying force."
Further compounding the situation, a U.S. federal judge issued a crucial order on Friday, imposing limitations on ICE's crowd control measures. The ruling specifically restricts the agency's ability to arrest or deploy pepper spray against individuals engaged in peaceful protest. This judicial intervention follows a series of contentious incidents, including the shooting of a Venezuelan national by a federal officer on Wednesday and the recent death of 36-year-old Victor Manuel Diaz from Nicaragua in ICE custody on Sunday afternoon, just twelve days after his apprehension in Minneapolis. ICE director Todd M. Lyons confirmed on Wednesday that their operations had led to the arrest of 2,500 individuals since their commencement.
The decision to prepare the elite 11th Airborne Division, a unit specializing in operating in extreme arctic conditions, for a potential domestic deployment highlights the unprecedented nature of the federal response. While the soldiers remain stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, their readiness signals a significant escalation in federal resolve. This potential deployment has also raised concerns about the invocation of the Insurrection Act, a seldom-used statute that empowers the President to deploy active-duty military for law enforcement purposes within the United States, a measure President Donald Trump has alluded to previously.
The situation has created a palpable sense of unease and division. Mayor Frey has been a vocal critic of the federal actions, lamenting the perception of a militarized response descending upon his city. Even as protests have persisted despite frigid temperatures, the fallout from ICE operations has been stark. Reports indicate multiple injuries among demonstrators, including a baby and a child who required hospitalization after exposure to tear gas. The death of Victor Manuel Diaz in ICE custody, coupled with the shooting of Renee Good, has galvanized activists and intensified calls for accountability and a re-evaluation of federal immigration enforcement strategies in urban centers. A Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, acknowledged the military's preparedness, stating, "The military is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon." The coming days will likely determine whether these soldiers will be called upon to enforce federal law in Minnesota, or if diplomatic and judicial channels will de-escalate the burgeoning crisis.