1,500 soldiers on standby for possible Minnesota deployment, source says, as state mobilizes National Guard

Federal officials have placed approximately 1,500 military personnel on standby for potential deployment to Minnesota, according to a source familiar with the matter, as the state mobilizes its National Guard in an escalating standoff over immigration enforcement.

The move comes amid a broader pattern of friction between the Trump administration and Democratic governors over the implementation of aggressive new immigration policies unveiled during the president's first week in office.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has publicly refused to cooperate with certain federal directives, citing constitutional concerns and the state's sanctuary policies. The confrontation has legal scholars debating the limits of federal authority and governors' powers.