标签： North America

The Pentagon has initiated prepare-to-deploy orders for approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers from Alaska-based units amid escalating tensions in Minnesota, according to senior U.S. officials. The mobilization preparation comes as federal immigration enforcement operations have sparked widespread protests and confrontations in the Midwestern state.

The strategic positioning of cold-weather specialized troops from the 11th Airborne Division’s infantry battalions follows President Donald Trump’s Thursday threat to invoke the Insurrection Act if state officials fail to curb protests targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel. While deployment remains uncertain, the move represents the administration’s latest escalation in responding to domestic civil disturbances.

This development occurs against the backdrop of intensified federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, where tensions dramatically increased after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, during a January 7th encounter. The incident has galvanized opposition to the nearly 3,000 federal agents deployed to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since last week.

The Trump administration maintains that military deployment would protect federal property and personnel, citing previous deployments in Los Angeles where Marines were dispatched under similar justification. Legal complexities surround potential deployment, as presidents possess authority to deploy active-duty forces for specific domestic purposes without invoking the Insurrection Act.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has mobilized the state’s National Guard while facing a Justice Department criminal investigation. Local leaders have consistently accused the administration of federal overreach and exaggerating isolated violence to justify military intervention. The administration has particularly focused on Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community in its rationale for increased enforcement.

The Pentagon and White House have not publicly commented on the deployment preparations, which were first reported by ABC News. The situation continues to evolve as both protest activity and federal enforcement operations persist in the region.

Minnesota has become the epicenter of a mounting constitutional crisis as federal immigration enforcement operations trigger widespread civil unrest and prompt military deployment preparations. The state faces unprecedented tensions with approximately 1,500 troops reportedly standing ready for deployment amid escalating protests against President Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign.

In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, civilian monitoring groups have organized to track and document the activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. One activist, operating under the pseudonym ‘Sunshine’ due to safety concerns, explained her daily routine of tracking unmarked ICE vehicles through city streets. ‘We have the legal right to observe [ICE agents], but they seem to have forgotten that,’ she stated while navigating the icy roads of St. Paul.

The conflict reached a critical juncture following the January 7th fatal shooting of 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Renée Good by an ICE agent. The circumstances remain fiercely contested, with federal authorities claiming self-defense while local officials maintain the victim posed no danger. This incident has galvanized community resistance and intensified protests outside federal buildings, despite freezing temperatures.

Federal judicial intervention has attempted to de-escalate tensions. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez issued a restraining order prohibiting ICE agents from arresting or using pepper spray against peaceful demonstrators monitoring immigration enforcement activities. However, clashes persist, with authorities deploying tear gas and pepper balls to disperse crowds.

The Department of Homeland Security maintains that operations target ‘the worst of the worst,’ but documentation reveals numerous instances of non-criminal immigrants and even U.S. citizens being detained. The administration’s approach has proven particularly controversial in Minnesota, home to America’s largest Somali immigrant community, whom President Trump previously described as ‘garbage’ and suggested should ‘return to where they came from.’

The political dimension has intensified with the Justice Department opening criminal investigations against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of obstructing federal immigration operations. Governor Walz, who recently abandoned his re-election bid amid unrelated fraud scandals, condemned the probes as ‘weaponizing the justice system against your opponents.’

President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act—a 19th-century statute permitting domestic military deployment—to quell resistance to his immigration campaign. Meanwhile, counter-protests have emerged, including attempts by pardoned January 6th participant Jake Lang to organize pro-ICE rallies, though these have been overwhelmingly outnumbered by opposing demonstrators.

As temperatures plummet and tensions escalate, Minneapolis residents like ‘Sunshine’ continue their vigilante monitoring efforts, despite reporting intimidation tactics from federal agents. ‘If they’re doing this with me, they’re not putting their hands on someone,’ she remarked, acknowledging the personal cost in time and resources. ‘I think that I’m doing what I’m doing because I love my neighbors.’

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.

In a significant escalation of transatlantic tensions, former President Donald Trump has declared impending tariff measures against eight European nations in pursuit of his longstanding ambition to acquire Greenland. Through his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump announced a 10% import tariff scheduled to take effect February 1st targeting Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and Great Britain—all already subject to existing Trump-era tariffs.

The punitive measures would intensify to 25% by June 1st unless negotiations culminate in U.S. ownership of the autonomous Danish territory. Trump maintains that Greenland’s strategic Arctic positioning and substantial mineral resources render it vital to American security interests, refusing to discount potential military action despite Greenland and Denmark’s consistent assertions that the island is not for sale.

The announcement triggered immediate diplomatic backlash across Europe. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the threat via social media, stating tariff imposition against allies pursuing collective NATO security was ‘completely wrong.’ European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa issued identical statements affirming the EU’s ‘full solidarity’ with Denmark and Greenland, warning tariffs risked a ‘dangerous downward spiral’ in transatlantic relations.

Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed surprise at the unilateral declaration, while Cyprus, holding the EU presidency, convened an emergency meeting of ambassadors from all 27 member states. Multiple European officials reiterated that tariff threats should have no place in discussions regarding Greenland’s sovereignty.

The move potentially jeopardizes tentative trade agreements negotiated between the Trump administration and European partners last year. Trade analysts note the unprecedented approach of targeting specific EU members differently risks fragmenting European unity and could undermine existing trade frameworks.

Meanwhile, thousands protested in Denmark and Greenland against what they perceive as neo-colonial aggression, demanding respect for Greenland’s self-determination. The escalating situation has raised concerns among NATO members about the alliance’s stability, with some U.S. senators warning the approach damages American interests and strengthens adversaries like China and Russia.

Approximately 1,500 soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, remain on high alert for potential deployment to Minneapolis, according to a U.S. defense official. This military contingency plan comes as ongoing demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations continue to unfold throughout the city.

The possible activation of active duty personnel represents one of several options available to the administration should civil unrest escalate. No final decision regarding troop deployment has been made at this time.

These developments follow the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier this month. Good was reportedly acting as a legal observer monitoring ICE activities at the time of the incident. While protest organizers have characterized her as a civilian observer, federal authorities have controversially labeled her a “domestic terrorist.”

In response to the escalating situation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has already mobilized the state’s National Guard and deployed additional law enforcement personnel to maintain order during protests. Simultaneously, the judicial branch has intervened through a federal court order issued by Judge Katherine Menendez. The ruling explicitly prohibits ICE agents from employing certain crowd control measures—including arrests and pepper spray—against peaceful demonstrators and observers.

City officials have repeatedly urged protesters to maintain orderly and peaceful conduct during demonstrations, which have spread beyond Minneapolis with signs demanding “Justice for Renee” appearing at rallies nationwide. The ongoing tensions reflect deepening national divisions regarding immigration enforcement policies and practices.

In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions, former U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that the United States would implement sweeping tariffs against eight European nations in retaliation for their opposition to American ambitions regarding Greenland. The targeted countries include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, and Finland.

According to Trump’s social media announcement, a 10% tariff on all goods from these nations will take effect on February 1, 2026. These levies are scheduled to increase dramatically to 25% by June 1 unless an agreement is reached for the United States to acquire the Arctic territory of Greenland.

The tariff threat follows reports that several NATO members, including Britain, France, and Germany, deployed military assets and diplomatic personnel to Greenland this week in apparent opposition to U.S. territorial aspirations. Trump framed these actions as a ‘very dangerous game’ that created an unacceptable level of risk.

‘Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation ends quickly, and without question,’ Trump stated in his post.

The former president justified the proposed acquisition on national security grounds, asserting that American control of Greenland is necessary to protect U.S. interests. He simultaneously offered negotiations with Denmark ‘and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them.’

Greenland, while self-governing, remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which maintains authority over its defense and foreign policy. The United States already operates a strategic military base on the island. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in obtaining Greenland, recently intensifying his rhetoric.

The announcement sparked immediate public backlash, with thousands of protesters gathering in Copenhagen on Saturday chanting slogans such as ‘Greenland is not for sale,’ demonstrating widespread European opposition to the proposition.