Minneapolis, United States. A US defence official said 1,500 soldiers in Alaska are on standby as an option for President Donald Trump amid continued anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstrations in Minneapolis. No decision has been made on deploying the troops.
Troops on standby
The official told CBS News that the 1,500 soldiers are currently in Alaska and could be used if Trump decides to deploy active-duty military personnel. The soldiers are part of the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright, the official said.
Protests and state response
Anti-ICE demonstrations continued in Minneapolis on Saturday. Minnesota officials urged protesters to remain orderly and peaceful following the death of US citizen Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE agent earlier this month.
Governor Tim Walz mobilised the state’s National Guard and placed it on alert, and other law enforcement officers were deployed to Minneapolis ahead of the demonstrations.
Legal limits on crowd-control tactics
A US federal judge issued an order limiting crowd control tactics that ICE agents can use toward “peaceful and unobstructive” protesters in Minneapolis. On Friday, Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that federal agents cannot arrest or pepper-spray peaceful demonstrations, including those monitoring or observing ICE agents.
Trump’s Insurrection Act comments
Last week, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that allows active-duty military personnel to be deployed for law enforcement duties inside the United States.
Background
Recent protests in the city were sparked by widespread action by ICE in Minneapolis and followed Good’s death on 7 January.
How do you think the judge’s order will affect future anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis?