Minnesota National Guard has been activated in response to ongoing unrest following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents on January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. Governor Tim Walz authorized the deployment at the request of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Hennepin County officials, citing strained local law enforcement resources due to the presence of thousands of federal immigration agents.

The National Guard is operating under two missions: supporting the Minneapolis Police Department near the shooting site at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, and assisting the Hennepin County Sheriff at the B.H. Whipple Federal Building. Their duties include helping enforce a temporary vehicle perimeter to prevent barricades and maintain neighborhood safety. These missions are described as "conditions based" with no set end date.

To avoid confusion with federal agents, National Guard members are wearing neon yellow reflective vests over their uniforms and are required to remain in close contact with Minneapolis Police officers. The activation is state-led, with no federal involvement in their operations.

Protests have continued in the Twin Cities since the January 7 shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, with escalating tensions over Operation Metro Surge—a federal initiative to detain all undocumented individuals in Minnesota. State and local leaders, including Senator Amy Klobuchar and Mayor Frey, have called for ICE to leave the state, citing public safety concerns. AI-generated answe