Months of mass protests have met US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants in the state.
According to a report by the Washington Post on Sunday, citing defense officials, the Pentagon has ordered around 1,500 active – duty US troops to get ready for a potential deployment to suppress the unrest in Minnesota.
Months of demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the area saw a sharp increase earlier in January after a woman was fatally shot in Minneapolis.
As reported by the Washington Post, citing a US defense official, the Pentagon has now put troops from the Alaska – based 11th Airborne Division on standby in case the violence in Minnesota intensifies. It’s not clear yet if they will be deployed, he said.
The outlet quoted a White House spokesperson as saying that the Pentagon usually prepares for any decision the US president might make.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act if “corrupt politicians” fail to stop “professional agitators and insurrectionists” from attacking ICE agents. This federal law would permit the deployment of troops to end domestic civil disorder or a rebellion.
Trump has had repeated conflicts with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over his continuous immigration crackdown in the state.
Multiple outlets reported on Friday that the US DOJ has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into both officials. The probe, which probably involves subpoenas, is looking into an alleged conspiracy to obstruct federal immigration agents operating in the state.
Both Walz and Frey have strongly criticized Trump’s decision to deploy nearly 3,000 federal agents to the Twin Cities earlier in January. After an ICE agent fatally shot local lesbian Renee Good, the mayor publicly told them to “get the f**k out of Minneapolis”.
Tensions soared after the killing, resulting in multiple confrontations between protesters and ICE agents.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has accused Walz and Frey of endangering federal officials by “encouraging” protesters to obstruct and attack them.