The troops, drawn from the Army’s 11th Airborne Division currently based in Alaska, have been ordered to prepare for possible mobilisation if President Donald Trump decides to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely-used federal law that would allow active-duty military personnel to be deployed domestically to assist with civil unrest. No formal decision has yet been made about sending the soldiers to the state.
The preparations come amid intensifying protests in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting earlier this month of Renée Nicole Good, a US citizen, by an agent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Demonstrations have drawn hundreds of participants and included clashes with federal agents, prompting concerns about further escalation.
In response to the unrest, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has mobilised the state’s National Guard, although units have not been deployed to city streets. Officials said the Guard is on standby to support local law enforcement and public safety efforts, focusing on protecting life, preserving property and safeguarding the rights of peaceful demonstrators.
A recent federal court order has also restricted the tactics federal immigration officers can use against protesters and observers, barring them from arresting or using force against those engaged in peaceful, law-abiding activity.
The possible preparation of active-duty troops underlines the heightened stakes of the situation in Minneapolis and reflects ongoing national debates over the balance between internal security and civil liberties. Officials emphasise that placing forces on standby does not guarantee deployment, but ensures readiness if conditions deteriorate further.
