Minneapolis Readies for Potential Military Presence Amid Ongoing Protests

Mon Jan 19 2026 10:53:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In response to rising tensions caused by protests against ICE operations, approximately 1,500 US soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska are on standby for potential deployment in Minneapolis. City officials are calling for peaceful demonstrations as authorities navigate the conflict surrounding immigration enforcement.

The 1,500 soldiers from Alaska will remain on standby as Minneapolis braces for protests against ICE following the recent shooting of Renee Good. The state’s leadership urges for peaceful protest while condemning the military's potential involvement. Ongoing tensions reflect larger immigration issues as city leaders respond to federal actions.

In Minneapolis, about 1,500 US soldiers are on standby for potential deployment, according to a defense official speaking to CBS News. These troops, part of the 11th Airborne Division based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, are available for President Trump to activate as protests against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continue in the city.

No deployment decision has been confirmed yet. The protests stemmed from the controversial shooting of US citizen Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier this month, which has prompted city officials to call for orderly and peaceful demonstrations.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has criticized Trump's threats to deploy military troops, describing the existing ICE presence as an 'occupying force' following additional federal agents being sent into the city.

Last week, the Trump administration suggested invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law enabling military action during civil unrest, further escalating the situation. Meanwhile, a federal judge has limited ICE's crowd control tactics toward peaceful protesters, though Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem downplayed the ruling.

The rising tensions and calls for justice in Good's case echo across the nation, igniting a broader dialogue on immigration enforcement and community safety amid an already charged political environment.