The Pentagon has directed about 1,500 soldiers from the Army’s 11th Airborne Division in Alaska to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota as protests continue after the Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.
Officials described the move as precautionary and emphasized that no decision has been made to send active-duty forces.
President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, then told reporters that he did not see a need to use it “right now.”
What the alert entails
Prepare-to-deploy orders instruct units to be ready to move on short notice. In this case, two battalions trained for cold-weather operations were told to stand by in case the White House authorizes a mission in Minnesota.
The Pentagon has not specified any mission details, and officials have noted that active-duty troops would require a clear legal basis for any support to civil authorities.
Discussion of the Insurrection Act drew attention because the law governs limited circumstances in which federal troops can be used inside the United States. Officials have signaled that, if any federal assistance occurs, it would likely focus on protecting federal facilities and personnel. As of Jan. 19, 2026, no deployment order has been issued.
Church protest and DOJ review
On Jan. 18, protesters entered Cities Church in St. Paul during a Sunday service, chanting “ICE out” and invoking Good’s name. The Department of Justice said it is investigating potential federal crimes related to disrupting worship.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote that houses of worship are protected spaces under federal criminal and civil law. Attorney General Pam Bondi also said federal offenses would be prosecuted.
The protest centered on claims that a Cities Church pastor, David Easterwood, also serves in a senior role at ICE’s St. Paul field office. The church’s leadership page lists a pastor with that name, and public appearances have identified a David Easterwood as acting field office director in recent months. Federal agencies and the church did not issue detailed public clarifications on Sunday. Organizers and local advocates argued the dual affiliation, if verified, raises concerns about accountability.
Local response and school moves
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said sending soldiers would be “not fair, not just, and completely unconstitutional.” State and city officials have pointed to an already expanded federal presence and argued that additional forces would be counterproductive while demonstrations continue across the Twin Cities.
The impact has reached classrooms. Saint Paul Public Schools announced a temporary virtual learning option for families who do not feel comfortable with in-person attendance, with the option slated to begin in late January. District officials also said contracted transport vans carrying students and staff were stopped by federal agents in recent days, and they outlined protocols for drivers and school personnel.
Hotels and the broader federal posture
Businesses have taken precautionary steps. Two downtown St. Paul hotels, the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront and the DoubleTree St. Paul Downtown, temporarily suspended operations and canceled reservations after safety concerns related to perceived bookings by federal agents. The owner, Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, said the closures were to protect staff and guests.
Federal law enforcement posture is expanding beyond immigration agencies. The FBI circulated messages seeking volunteers from field offices around the country for temporary duty in Minneapolis. The bureau did not publicly link the request to any single incident, though it comes amid continued protests, legal disputes, and event-driven deployments across the metro.
