We've been seeing things spiral out of control in Minneapolis, with agitators not just impeding and going after ICE but now going after other people as well, including harassing random people whom they think might be ICE.
As I reported on Saturday, one example of that was a "response team" showing up at a deli to harass five software guys trying to have lunch, grilling them on their beliefs. An email revealed that the city was monitoring ICE activity, which raises problematic questions, given that the Department of Justice is investigating the actions of Minnesota officials regarding ICE enforcement. They're looking at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Anti-ICE Agitators Wreak More Havoc in Minneapolis
Walz has the Minnesota National Guard on standby, but he has not yet deployed them.
President Donald Trump also has the Guard on standby.
About 1,500 active-duty soldiers are on standby for possible deployment to Minneapolis, a U.S. defense official told CBS News Saturday.
ABC News was first to report that the soldiers were on standby.
The soldiers — from the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska — are one option the military is planning for if President Trump decides to use active-duty military personnel, the official said.
The fact that Trump put the Guard on standby is likely to cause a tantrum from the Left.
But the post by the Minnesota National Guard about being on standby also got a lot of people talking for a couple of reasons.
Members of the Minnesota National Guard are on standby, ready to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies. If our members are activated, they will be wearing reflective vests, as pictured here, to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms. pic.twitter.com/xopL7aOZnJ
— Minnesota National Guard (@MNNationalGuard) January 17, 2026
These Minnesota National Guardsmen live, work, and serve in our state, and are focused on protecting life, preserving property, and ensuring Minnesotans can safely exercise their First Amendment rights.
— Minnesota National Guard (@MNNationalGuard) January 17, 2026
Members of the Minnesota National Guard are on standby, ready to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies. If our members are activated, they will be wearing reflective vests, as pictured here, to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms.
These Minnesota National Guardsmen live, work, and serve in our state, and are focused on protecting life, preserving property, and ensuring Minnesotans can safely exercise their First Amendment rights.
That reads like: We know we might look like ICE to you folks who can't distinguish things, but we're not, so don't attack us. Imagine them having to make that distinction to forestall crazy leftists from attacking them.
Then, too, why are their faces pixelated when Minnesota officials have been yelling about ICE agents wearing masks?
They literally masked their faces. https://t.co/Ga3JNy9VBZ pic.twitter.com/TiC2H8yZzv
— L A R R Y (@LarryOConnor) January 18, 2026
Are they afraid that the leftists are going to dox the National Guard?
Then maybe Minnesota should understand the concern about the dangers and threats to the ICE agents.
Some on X suggested ICE could now also wear reflective vests - how about the Left doesn't hurt anyone?
Others told Minnesota to just stop coddling the radicals and let the feds enforce the laws.
Your state is so messed up that you have to dress your troops up in hi-vis so your liberals only attack the OTHER federal entities?
— 👣ℙ𝕖𝕕𝕣𝕠'𝕤 𝕄𝕦𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖🇺🇲 (@OfAthenry) January 18, 2026
Why not just enforce the dang laws and stop letting the inmates run the asylum?
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