The official, who remained unnamed, clarified that no final decision has been made regarding the deployment of the soldiers from Alaska. The troops are part of the 11th Airborne Division based at Fort Wainwright. The potential deployment follows weeks of protests in Minneapolis after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a U.S. citizen, earlier this month. Minnesota officials have urged protesters to maintain order and peace during demonstrations.

Last week, Trump raised the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely used federal law that grants the president the authority to deploy active-duty military personnel for law enforcement purposes within the United States. The Insurrection Act, originally enacted in 1807, has historically been invoked in situations involving civil unrest or to enforce federal laws when state authorities are unable or unwilling to do so.

The potential deployment also coincides with a recent order from a U.S. federal judge limiting the crowd control tactics that ICE agents can employ against "peaceful and unobstructive" protesters in Minneapolis. Judge Katherine Menen issued the order in response to concerns about the agency's handling of demonstrations.

The situation remains fluid, and the decision to deploy the soldiers ultimately rests with President Trump. The White House has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the potential deployment. The coming days will likely determine whether the soldiers will be sent to Minneapolis.