Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Mobilizes National Guard Amid Anti-ICE Protests

Jacki Thrapp 01/18/26  

Minnesota National Guard members are wearing bright vests over their uniform so anti-ICE protesters can ‘distinguish them from other agencies.’

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz mobilized his state’s National Guard on Jan. 17 and will have soldiers wear bright yellow reflective vests over their uniforms so protesters can “distinguish them from other agencies” such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the Minnesota National Guard.

“These Soldiers are staged, and vehicles and personnel are ready to respond at locations across the metro.,” Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, state public affairs officer for the Minnesota National Guard, confirmed to The Epoch Times in an email on Jan. 18.