Pentagon Places 1,500 Active-Duty Troops on Standby as Minnesota Mobilizes National Guard Amid Protests

The Pentagon has placed roughly 1,500 active-duty US soldiers on standby for a potential deployment to Minnesota, according to a source familiar with the matter, as state and federal authorities brace for continued protests tied to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign.

The move, which does not guarantee troops will ultimately be deployed, comes as Minnesota officials have already mobilized the National Guard to support local law enforcement in the Twin Cities. A Trump administration source said the standby order is precautionary, emphasizing that no final decision has been made.

Two battalions from the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division have received prepare-to-deploy orders, a US defense official confirmed. While their exact mission remains unclear, officials said the troops could be tasked with crowd control or logistical support roles similar to those active-duty forces played during unrest in Los Angeles last summer.

Military officials say the Pentagon has presented multiple response options to President Donald Trump.

“It’s typical for the Department of Defense to be prepared for any decision the president may or may not make,” the White House said in a statement.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell echoed that sentiment, saying, “The Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon.”

National Guard Staged, Federal Presence Expands

The development follows reports that federal agencies are bolstering their presence in Minnesota, including a surge of Customs and Border Protection personnel and a smaller number of FBI agents.

Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety said National Guard members are not currently deployed on city streets but remain ready to assist if needed. Images shared on social media showed Guard troops staging equipment along snow-covered roadways.

“The Minnesota National Guard is staged and ready to respond,” said Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, a Guard spokesperson. She said the mission would focus on traffic support and public safety, aimed at protecting lives, preserving property, and safeguarding the right to peaceful assembly.

Gov. Tim Walz praised local law enforcement for maintaining order amid the demonstrations and urged protesters to remain peaceful.

Minneapolis Officials Push Back

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey sharply criticized reports of active-duty troops being placed on standby, calling the move an attempt to intimidate residents.

“I never thought in a million years that we would be invaded by our own federal government,” Frey said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, describing the administration’s actions as “ridiculous” and “completely unconstitutional.”

Frey warned against the possibility of federal troops, ICE agents, local police, and the National Guard confronting one another in Minneapolis. “We can’t have that in America,” he said.

President Trump has previously suggested invoking the Insurrection Act, a centuries-old law that would allow him to deploy US troops domestically. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reiterated support for the idea during a Sunday appearance on Fox News.

“If local leadership is not doing their jobs, there may come a time when the president has to order that,” Blanche said, adding that administration officials believe such action may be necessary to keep communities safe.

Protests Fueled by Fatal ICE Shooting

The protests erupting across Minneapolis were sparked by the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE agent earlier this month. Her death has ignited nationwide demonstrations and intensified criticism of the administration’s immigration crackdown, which has relied on armed and masked agents conducting targeted operations in major cities.

Tensions escalated further last week after another federal agent shot a Venezuelan man in the leg during an arrest, with the Department of Homeland Security claiming the individual was violently resisting.

Walz authorized National Guard support for local police the day after Good was killed.

Cold Streets, Rising Tensions

Despite subfreezing temperatures, crowds filled downtown Minneapolis and gathered outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building over the weekend. Roads were blocked, and some downtown hotels increased security in anticipation of unrest.

CNN journalists observed federal officers in riot gear advancing toward demonstrators, prompting chants and boos. Some protesters urged calm, calling on others to remain peaceful and unified. Several individuals were detained by federal agents, though it was unclear what prompted the detentions.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department said its deputies were present but did not make arrests, primarily assisting with traffic control.

Earlier Saturday, a small pro-ICE rally near City Hall led by conservative influencer Jake Lang was overwhelmed by counter-protesters and eventually dispersed without arrests, according to Minneapolis police. Lang, a January 6 defendant who received clemency from Trump, had previously posted online that he intended to burn a Quran, though it remains unclear whether that occurred.

Judge Restricts Federal Tactics

Adding another layer of complexity, a federal judge on Friday issued a preliminary injunction limiting how federal agents may respond to protests.

US District Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that agents may not arrest or detain peaceful demonstrators or use certain crowd-control measures. The order also restricts agents from stopping vehicles without reasonable suspicion of interference with federal operations.

The injunction applies to Operation Metro Surge, a federal initiative that has deployed thousands of agents to the Twin Cities to target undocumented Somali immigrants.

Minneapolis officials welcomed the ruling, saying they expect federal authorities to comply.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized the order as unnecessary, insisting agents already use minimal force. Border Patrol officials, however, have alleged that officers have been assaulted and targeted by agitators.

The legal fight continues as the Justice Department reportedly investigates Walz and Frey for possible obstruction of federal law enforcement, a move Democrats say reflects political retaliation. Frey said he has received no formal notice of such an investigation.