The United States Army has placed approximately 1,500 active-duty paratroopers on high alert for potential deployment to Minnesota, according to defense officials speaking to major news outlets on Sunday. The soldiers, belonging to the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, have been recalled to their base during the holiday weekend to serve as a rapid response force.
This military preparation follows President Donald Trump’s recent threat to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, an archaic federal statute granting presidential authority to deploy military forces domestically under extreme circumstances. While administration officials emphasized that no final decision has been made regarding deployment, they confirmed the military is “taking prudent steps to prepare active-duty Army forces” as a contingency measure.
The potential deployment comes amid escalating tensions in Minnesota following two officer-involved shootings within approximately one week. The initial incident occurred on January 7 when a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good, sparking nationwide demonstrations. Subsequent protests intensified following another related shooting incident approximately one week later.
Minnesota authorities confirmed on Saturday that the state’s National Guard units have already been mobilized as security concerns continue to mount in Minneapolis, the state’s largest metropolitan area. The situation represents one of the most significant domestic military preparedness actions in recent years, highlighting the federal government’s concern about potential civil unrest.