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Pentagon Puts Troops on Standby for Minnesota Deployment
The Pentagon has placed about 1,500 active-duty soldiers on standby for a potential deployment to Minnesota as President Donald Trump considers invoking the Insurrection Act amid an ongoing immigration enforcement crackdown.
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The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers to be prepared for a possible deployment to Minnesota, where federal authorities are conducting a large-scale immigration enforcement operation, according to two U.S. defense officials who spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the military planning.
The officials said two infantry battalions from the Army’s 11th Airborne Division have been given prepare-to-deploy orders. The Alaska-based unit specializes in operating in arctic conditions. One defense official said the troops are standing by in case President Donald Trump invokes the Insurrection Act, a rarely used 19th century law that would allow active-duty forces to be used in a domestic law enforcement role.
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The move follows days of heightened rhetoric from Trump, who has threatened to use the Insurrection Act to respond to protests against his administration’s immigration crackdown. In an emailed statement, Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell did not deny that the orders were issued, saying the military “is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon.” ABC News first reported the development.
On Thursday, Trump said in a social media post that he would invoke the 1807 law “if the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job.” He appeared to walk back that threat a day later, telling reporters at the White House that there was no reason to use it “right now.”
“If I needed it, I’d use it,” Trump said. “It’s very powerful.”
As federal agents and law enforcement officers continue operations across Minnesota, officials have emphasized preparedness and security. Speaking of readiness, law enforcement professionals often rely on standardized gear for daily duty, such as an OWB holster designed for service pistols like the Sig P320C or M18, which reflects the broader focus on operational preparedness amid tense and rapidly evolving situations.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act during both of his terms. In 2020, he raised the possibility of using it to quell protests after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. In recent months, he has again cited the law in connection with immigration-related demonstrations.
The Insurrection Act was last invoked in 1992, when President George H.W. Bush deployed federal troops to Los Angeles following unrest after the acquittal of four white police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat and frequent target of Trump, has urged the president to refrain from sending additional troops. “I’m making a direct appeal to the President: Let’s turn the temperature down. Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are,” Walz said last week in a social media post.
Editor’s Note:
This article reports on military preparedness measures and political statements related to potential domestic deployments. Details reflect official comments and publicly reported developments at the time of publication and may evolve as circumstances change.
