Federal officials escalate response to unrest and legal challenges tied to immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Pentagon has issued prepare-to-deploy orders to multiple Army units amid the possibility of a federal military deployment to Minneapolis, as tensions continue to escalate over immigration enforcement operations and ongoing protests in the city.
According to reporting by MS NOW, the Department of War issued the orders this week to Army units stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, citing three individuals familiar with the matter. The preparations follow similar orders previously issued to battalions based in Alaska.
The developments come as President Donald Trump has publicly considered invoking the Insurrection Act in response to anti–Immigration and Customs Enforcement demonstrations in Minneapolis that have resulted in violent confrontations with law enforcement. The 1807 law allows the president to deploy military forces for domestic law enforcement purposes if civil unrest rises to the level of an insurrection that obstructs enforcement of federal law.
Minneapolis has emerged as a focal point for federal immigration activity following widespread reporting on large-scale public fraud investigations tied to the city, alongside intensified enforcement actions that have drawn sustained protests.
As military preparations advanced, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a sharp warning to Minnesota officials who have moved to block the federal presence. In a letter reported by Just the News, Bondi accused Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison of filing “legally groundless motions” in federal court and threatened sanctions if the state does not withdraw them.
“If you do not withdraw that motion, the United States reserves the right to take appropriate action, including sanctions or other disciplinary action,” Bondi wrote.
Minnesota earlier this month filed a lawsuit seeking to block the deployment of ICE and Border Patrol agents, arguing that the operations amounted to an unconstitutional “federal invasion.” The state asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order declaring the deployment unlawful.
Bondi countered that the lawsuit violates Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires attorneys to certify that filings are factually and legally grounded and not frivolous.
“You are…free—in the political arena—to offer the American people whatever excuses you can muster for your decision to shelter criminal illegal aliens while interfering with federal officers who are bravely and lawfully protecting citizens,” Bondi wrote. “What you cannot do, however, is file legally groundless motions, wasting taxpayer funds and the resources of both the Department of Justice and the federal courts.”
She added that Minnesota’s legal claims rely on flawed interpretations of the Tenth Amendment and state sovereignty, asserting that longstanding legal precedent establishes the supremacy of federal law and prohibits states from obstructing its enforcement.
“It really is that simple,” Bondi wrote. “President Trump and I will ensure that federal law is enforced in Minnesota, just as it is and will be enforced in every other state.”
Minnesota has become a flashpoint in the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement push. Earlier this month, a federal ICE agent fatally shot a Minneapolis motorist, Renee Good, whom authorities say attempted to interfere with operations and struck an agent with her vehicle. The administration is also examining alleged fraud involving federally backed benefit programs in the state, with several convicted individuals linked to the Minneapolis Somali community, prompting federal officials to review immigration statuses connected to the cases.
As protests, litigation, and federal preparations continue in parallel, the situation in Minnesota remains fluid, with both the Pentagon and the Justice Department signaling a readiness to escalate their response.