Army Places 1,500 Soldiers on Standby for Possible Deployment to Minnesota Amid Immigration Operations

The Pentagon has ordered approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers from the Army's 11th Airborne Division to be ready for potential deployment to Minnesota due to ongoing immigration enforcement operations. This decision follows recent threats from President Trump regarding the use of military forces.

The Pentagon has instructed approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers to be on standby for a potential deployment to Minnesota. This is in response to a large-scale immigration enforcement operation by federal authorities, according to two defence officials who spoke under anonymity due to the sensitivity of the military plans.

Two infantry battalions from the Army's 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska and skilled in arctic operations, have received prepare-to-deploy orders. The deployment could occur if President Donald Trump decides to invoke the Insurrection Act, an infrequently used law from the 19th century that permits the use of active-duty troops as law enforcement.

Insurrection Act and Potential Deployment

The possibility of invoking this law follows Trump's recent threats to do so in order to suppress protests against his administration's immigration policies. In a social media post on Thursday, Trump mentioned he would use the 1807 law if Minnesota politicians failed to control agitators attacking I.C.E. agents. However, he later suggested there was no immediate need for such action.

"If I needed it, I'd use it," Trump stated, describing the law as "very powerful." Throughout his presidency, Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act during various protests, including those following George Floyd's death in 2020.

Historical Context and Political Reactions

The Insurrection Act was last used by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 during unrest in Los Angeles after police officers were acquitted in the Rodney King case. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a frequent critic of Trump, has urged restraint. "I'm making a direct appeal to the President: Let's turn the temperature down," Walz said on social media last week.

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell did not deny the orders and stated that the military is always ready to follow the Commander-in-Chief's directives if necessary. ABC News initially reported this development.

Trump's threat of deploying troops comes amid ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement and protests. The situation remains fluid as officials and politicians navigate these complex dynamics.

With inputs from PTI