About 1,500 US Army soldiers have been placed on standby for possible deployment to Minneapolis as protests over immigration enforcement continue in the city, according to a US defence official quoted by CBS News.
The troops, based in Alaska and assigned to the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright, could be deployed if President Donald Trump authorises the use of active-duty military forces. Officials stressed that no final decision has been made.
The move comes as demonstrations continue following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent earlier this month. The incident has triggered nationwide protests and renewed debate over federal immigration operations.
Minnesota authorities have urged demonstrators to remain peaceful as tensions remain high. Governor Tim Walz has placed the state’s National Guard on alert, while additional law enforcement personnel have been positioned in Minneapolis to manage crowd control.
A federal judge has also stepped in to restrict the tactics used by immigration agents during protests. Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that federal officers may not use pepper spray or make arrests against peaceful demonstrators or individuals observing ICE operations. The ruling also bars agents from stopping people without reasonable suspicion of interference.
Local leaders say the protests have largely remained orderly, though emotions remain high following Good’s death. City officials say she was acting as a legal observer when she was shot. Federal authorities, however, have described her actions differently, claiming she posed a threat during the encounter.
The Trump administration has defended ICE’s operations and the actions of its officers, while critics argue that the federal response has intensified tensions rather than easing them.
The potential deployment of military forces underscores the seriousness of the situation, though officials emphasize that the troops remain on standby and have not been ordered into action.
Protests are expected to continue in the coming days as investigations into the shooting and broader immigration enforcement policies move forward.