The Pentagon has placed approximately 1,500 troops on prepare-to-deploy orders for potential deployment to Minnesota, as protests intensify following the shooting of Renee Nicole Good and the targeting of a local church. The Justice Department promises to prosecute protesters disrupting a church service. Local leaders and community members express concerns about the federal government's actions.
The Pentagon has issued orders for approximately 1,500 troops to prepare for a potential deployment to Minnesota , as the state grapples with escalating anti- ICE protests. These protests have been fueled by the tragic shooting of Renee Nicole Good. President Donald Trump, in response to the unrest, had earlier considered invoking the Insurrection Act.
Two battalions of the 11th Airborne Division were placed on prepare-to-deploy orders as a contingency, according to two defense officials who spoke with NBC News. However, there has been no indication of the president actually using the Insurrection Act beyond his public remarks. In fact, on Friday, he informed reporters that he did not believe it was necessary. The situation is further complicated by the Justice Department's commitment to investigating and pursuing potential federal charges against protesters who disrupted a Sunday service at a church in St. Paul. Protesters targeted the Cities Church because they believed that a local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office director served as a pastor there. Video footage from inside the church shows a group shouting slogans such as 'ICE out!' and chanting the name of Good, the woman who was fatally shot by an ICE officer on a Minneapolis street on January 7th. David Easterwood is listed as a pastor and the director of discipleship on the church's website, although he wasn't present during the protest. He also identified himself as the acting field office director for enforcement and removal operations in St. Paul during a press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in October. \Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that agitators were not only targeting officers but were also now targeting churches. She added that DHS would neither confirm nor deny any attempts to dox law enforcement officers, emphasizing that such actions pose serious risks to officers and their families. McLaughlin underscored that law enforcement officers are actively involved in arresting terrorists, gang members, murderers, pedophiles, and rapists. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on X that she had spoken with the church's pastor, assuring him that attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians would be met with the full force of federal law. She further stated that the DOJ would remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes in Minnesota, indicating that the multi-agency operation in the Twin Cities showed no signs of slowing down. The FBI has also requested that agents from offices across the United States voluntarily travel to Minnesota to assist federal agencies. Minnesota has been the site of weeks of protests following the deployment of over 3,000 federal agents to the city, which was done against the wishes of local leaders. The White House has stated that this deployment is aimed at rooting out local corruption and enforcing immigration law. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told CNN on Sunday that the potential troop deployment would be “not fair, it’s not just, and it’s completely unconstitutional.” The church incident was livestreamed on YouTube by former CNN anchor Don Lemon. This prompted a response from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who stated that a house of worship is not a public forum for protest and is protected by federal laws. Dhillon further added that the First Amendment does not protect the disruption of a prayer service, and that protesters were on notice.\Nekima Levy Armstrong, who participated in the protest and leads the local grassroots civil rights organization Racial Justice Network, told The Associated Press that the presence of an ICE supervisor as a pastor overseeing ICE agents was almost unfathomable. Meanwhile, St. Paul Public Schools has announced it will provide a virtual learning facility for students who do not feel safe attending school. An ICE spokesperson responded by saying that DHS does not enter schools to arrest children. However, the statement clarified that federal agents may enter a school if a dangerous or violent criminal illegal alien felon is present. Several hotels in the Twin Cities are temporarily closing because of safety concerns linked to the ongoing federal immigration crackdown. The Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures board of directors released a statement confirming the temporary suspension of operations at two St. Paul hotels — the Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront and the DoubleTree St. Paul Downtown — citing elevated safety and security concerns. The situation highlights the increasing tension and complexity of the ongoing immigration debate and the actions being taken by both federal and local authorities in response
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