News - The Pentagon Prepares Troops Amidst Immigration Tensions

The Pentagon has placed 1,500 active duty soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota as federal authorities have undertaken a significant immigration enforcement effort. According to two defense officials, the Army’s 11th Airborne Division, known for its arctic operational prowess and based in Alaska, has received prepare-to-deploy orders. The potential deployment is contingent upon President Donald Trump invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely employed 19th-century statute empowering him to deploy active duty troops for law enforcement duties. This development follows Trump’s threats to quell protests against his immigration policies using military force. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell, while not confirming the orders, stated that the military maintains readiness for presidential directives. Trump initially signaled his intent to use the law in a social media post, casting it as a response to Minnesota politicians' inaction against what he described as disruptive protests. However, the President later downplayed the immediacy of such a measure, saying it wasn’t required yet. The Insurrection Act, last invoked in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush during the Los Angeles riots, has been threatened by Trump in prior situations, including the 2020 protests following George Floyd's death. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has opposed the prospect of increased troop presence, advocating for de-escalation and urging the President to avoid drastic military actions. This scenario underscores ongoing tensions surrounding U.S. immigration policies and the complex intersection of federal authority and states' responses.