The Pentagon has placed approximately 1,500 troops on prepare-to-deploy orders for possible deployment to Minnesota as anti-ICE protests intensify following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to ongoing unrest, with two battalions of the 11th Airborne Division receiving orders should he proceed, according to two defense officials who spoke with News Of Fort Worth.
At a Glance
- Pentagon orders 1,500 troops to prepare for potential Minnesota deployment
- President Trump threatens Insurrection Act over anti-ICE protests
- Justice Department investigates protesters who disrupted St. Paul church service
- Over 3,000 federal agents already deployed against local leaders’ wishes
Why it matters: The potential military deployment represents an escalation in federal response to protests over immigration enforcement tactics and could test constitutional limits on domestic military intervention.
Troop Deployment Orders
The military preparation comes as Minnesota experiences weeks of protests following the January 7 shooting death of Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The president told reporters Friday that he doesn’t believe he needs to invoke the Insurrection Act “any more,” though no final decision has been announced.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed Thursday that Trump is weighing whether to invoke the act. “If anything doesn’t change with Governor Walz, I don’t anticipate that the streets will get any safer or more peaceful,” she stated.
Church Protest Investigation
The Justice Department has pledged to investigate protesters who disrupted a Sunday service at the Cities Church in St. Paul. The demonstrators targeted the church believing that David Easterwood, a local ICE field office director, serves as a pastor there.
News Of Fort Worth obtained cell phone video footage shot by Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who fatally shot Good. The footage shows protesters shouting “ICE out!” and chanting Good’s name during the church service. Easterwood is listed as a pastor and director of discipleship on the church’s website, though he did not appear present during the protest.
The same David Easterwood identified himself as acting field office director for enforcement and removal operations in St. Paul during an October press conference with Secretary Noem.
Federal Response Escalates
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, condemned the church protest: “Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too.”
She emphasized that “DHS will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers. Doxxing our officers put their lives and their families in serious danger.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on social media that she had spoken with the church’s pastor and promised that “attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.”
The Justice Department has remained mobilized to prosecute federal crimes in Minnesota, signaling continued federal intervention in the region.
Local Opposition Grows
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the potential troop deployment during a CNN interview Sunday, calling it “not fair, it’s not just, and it’s completely unconstitutional.”
The federal presence has already significantly impacted local communities. Over 3,000 federal agents were deployed to Minneapolis against local leaders’ wishes as part of what the White House describes as an operation targeting local corruption and immigration law enforcement.
Some Twin Cities hotels have closed due to safety concerns related to the federal immigration crackdown. The Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures board announced temporary suspension of operations at two St. Paul hotels – the Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront and DoubleTree St. Paul Downtown – citing “elevated safety and security concerns.”
Community Impact
Nekima Levy Armstrong, who participated in the church protest and leads the Racial Justice Network, told The Associated Press: “When you think about the federal government unleashing barbaric ICE agents upon our community and all the harm that they have caused, to have someone serving as a pastor who oversees these ICE agents, is almost unfathomable to me.”
The FBI has requested agents from offices nationwide to voluntarily travel to Minnesota to assist federal agencies there.
St. Paul Public Schools announced it would provide virtual learning options for students uncomfortable attending school during the federal operations. An ICE spokesperson responded: “As we have repeatedly stated, DHS does not go to schools to arrest children,” though federal agents may enter schools if a “dangerous or violent criminal illegal alien felon” is present.
Legal Challenges
Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, condemned both the protest and the livestream coverage by former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who broadcast the church incident on YouTube.
“A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws!” Dhillon stated. “Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice!”
The Justice Department did not return requests for comment on the investigation.
Key Takeaways
- The Pentagon’s troop preparation represents a significant escalation in federal response to local protests
- Multiple agencies – including DHS, DOJ, and FBI – are coordinating responses to the unrest
- Local officials and community leaders oppose the increased federal presence
- The situation stems from the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer and subsequent protests
The potential military deployment and ongoing federal operations signal no immediate end to the tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local communities in Minnesota.
