The U.S. Department of Defense has placed approximately 1,500 active-duty Army paratroopers stationed in Alaska on alert, preparing them for a possible deployment to the state of Minnesota. This move comes amid ongoing civil unrest in the Midwestern state, primarily centered in Minneapolis, following a federal crackdown on illegal immigration.
Federal Troop Mobilization Amid Rising Tensions
The Pentagon's directive, first reported by ABC News on Sunday, January 18, 2026, cites two unnamed U.S. defence officials. The soldiers, based in Alaska, have been told to prepare for mobilization, though a final decision from the White House is still pending. President Donald Trump has not yet authorized the deployment.
This preparation follows President Trump's recent threat to invoke the Insurrection Act, a federal law that permits the use of the U.S. military to suppress domestic violence or armed rebellion. However, the President later stated there was no immediate need to enact the law. The Insurrection Act was last invoked over three decades ago.
State and Local Leaders Clash with Federal Response
The potential deployment of federal troops would significantly escalate the existing standoff between the White House and local authorities in Minnesota. Tensions have been high since the January 7 fatal shooting of a U.S. woman by a federal agent in Minneapolis, which sparked repeated clashes between protesters and immigration officers.
In response to the escalating situation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz directed the mobilization of the state's National Guard on Saturday to support local law enforcement. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has been highly critical of the federal presence, describing the roughly 3,000 federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol already in the city as an "occupying force" that has "invaded our city."
Mayor Frey expressed alarm at reports of the additional 1,500 troops, noting that federal agents already outnumber the city's 600-strong police force. He argued the crackdown is terrorizing the Latino and Somali communities rather than enhancing public safety.
A Pattern of Federal Intervention
This is not the first time the Trump administration has considered using military personnel in response to immigration-related protests. In June and July, the Pentagon deployed about 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles during similar unrest. While President Trump also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act at that time, he ultimately did not, and the soldiers' role was limited to guarding federal properties.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has defended the ongoing operations in Minnesota, stating the crackdown will continue until "all the dangerous people are picked up, brought to justice and then deported back to their home countries." She has also confirmed plans to send hundreds more federal officers to Minneapolis.
The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported troop preparations. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for a significant increase in federal military presence on U.S. soil pending a presidential decision.
