The Minnesota National Guard announced on Saturday that its National Guard members are currently “on standby” amid the continued anti-U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests in Minneapolis and throughout the state. The Minnesota National Guard also indicated that members would wear “reflective vests” if they are activated to help residents “distinguish them from other agencies.”
“Members of the Minnesota National Guard are on standby, ready to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies,” the Minnesota National Guard wrote in a Saturday statement on X, formerly Twitter. “If our members are activated, they will be wearing reflective vests, as pictured here, to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms.”
The Minnesota National Guard shared a picture of two armed National Guard members with blurred faces and wearing bright yellow reflective vests over their National Guard uniforms.
Commenting on the role of the National Guard troops who could be activated to restore order and safety throughout the state in the face of continued left-wing attacks on federal law enforcement officials in response to ICE’s crackdown on illegal immigration, the Minnesota National Guard said, “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.”
In response to the post by the Minnesota National Guard, Tony Kinnett, a correspondent for Daily Signal, tweeted, “‘We’re putting OUR troops in neon vests so you only attack federal law enforcement’ is an insane thing to tweet.”
READ MORE: Up to 2,000 fed’l agents deployed to Minnesota amid immigration crackdown: Report
According to Fox News, officials have confirmed that while Minnesota National Guardsmen have not yet been deployed to the streets of Minneapolis and the surrounding area, the National Guard members are prepared to aid in maintaining public safety.
In a Saturday statement on social media, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said, “At Gov. Walz’s direction, the Minnesota National Guard have been mobilized and are staging to support local law enforcement and emergency management agencies.”
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety added, “They are not deployed to city streets at this time, but are ready to help support public safety, including protection of life, preservation of property and supporting the rights of all who assemble peacefully.”
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety also shared pictures of a National Guard member and National Guard vehicles in Saturday’s post.