The Pentagon has issued orders for approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers based in Alaska to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota, where significant protests against government deportation efforts have recently taken place, according to two U.S. officials.

These military units are on standby in case the situation in the Midwest escalates into violence, although it remains uncertain whether they will actually be sent.

Former President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces should state Democratic officials fail to control protesters interfering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. This comes in the wake of increased immigration enforcement activity in the area.

Tensions have reached a boiling point in Minneapolis following the shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE officer in January. Such confrontations have sparked significant public outcry and heightened civic engagement among local residents.

On Saturday, Jake Lang, known for his anti-Muslim and antisemitic views, attempted to rally support for the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis but drew only a handful of followers. Lang’s brief gathering was met with a substantial counter-protest, where demonstrators expressed their dissent by confronting him physically and verbally.

Images of Lang and his supporters, captured amid scuffles, circulated online, framing the narrative as one of chaos in a city grappling with the implications of government policy on immigrant communities.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized any potential military deployment as “ridiculous,” asserting it would only heighten tensions in a city that has already seen federal agents deployed to manage immigration enforcement.

“We don’t need more federal agents to keep people safe. We are safe,” Frey stated, underscoring local sentiments that see such actions as unwarranted escalations.

Amid increasing unrest, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested establishing a “peaceful protest zone” in Minneapolis. However, local activists aim not only to express discontent but to disrupt ICE activities directly, signaling a profound shift in public opinion regarding immigration policy enforcement.

Trump’s administration has also leveraged an unrelated scandal regarding the alleged misappropriation of federal funds in Minnesota to justify heightened immigration enforcement efforts, disproportionately affecting the state’s Somali immigrant community.

ICE operations have not been restricted to one demographic; for instance, agents recently targeted a residence in St. Paul, removing an elderly man from the Hmong community—another group with a long history in the region. These actions underscore the broader implications of immigration policy on various immigrant populations in the Twin Cities.

If the active-duty troops are deployed, it remains unclear whether the Insurrection Act would be formally invoked. This act allows the president to call on military forces or federalize state National Guard troops to address domestic unrest. Even without it, a president may deploy troops for particular domestic purposes, citing the need to safeguard federal property.

Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, conveyed that the Department of War is prepared to follow the orders of the commander-in-chief as the situation develops.

Amidst humor and commentary from Minnesotans referencing historical military failures, the Pentagon remains poised to act, utilizing troops trained for cold-weather operations from Alaska. Meanwhile, public discourse continues regarding the appropriateness and impact of federal intervention in state matters, particularly in areas led by Democratic officials.

As part of a broader national strategy, Trump has dispatched an influx of federal agents to various Democratic-leaning cities across the country, citing the necessity of protecting federal personnel and property. This strategy has elicited allegations of federal overreach and concerns over the criminalization of civic engagement and peaceful protest.