Minneapolis, Minnesota — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Sunday that deploying active-duty U.S. soldiers to Minnesota in response to immigration protests would be unconstitutional, as federal authorities continue a major enforcement surge across the Twin Cities.
The Department of Homeland Security has increased immigration operations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, bringing in more than 2,000 federal officers since early January. The enforcement push has sparked daily protests, many centered in immigrant neighborhoods and near federal facilities. Frey said demonstrations have remained peaceful and emphasized that residents are exercising their First Amendment rights.
According to defense officials, the Pentagon has placed roughly 1,500 active-duty soldiers on prepare-to-deploy status. The troops, based in Alaska and trained for arctic conditions, could be sent to Minnesota if President Donald Trump invokes the Insurrection Act, a rarely used 19th-century law allowing military deployment during civil unrest. Trump has publicly floated the idea but has not ordered a deployment.
Frey urged protesters to remain nonviolent, arguing that any escalation could be used to justify military intervention. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has mobilized the National Guard, though no units have been deployed to city streets.
The protests have drawn participation from a wide range of residents, including U.S. Postal Service workers who say ICE activity has endangered public safety. Meanwhile, several hotels believed to house immigration officers temporarily closed or stopped accepting reservations, citing safety concerns.
A federal judge recently ruled that immigration officers may not detain or use force against peaceful protesters who are not obstructing enforcement operations.
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