Reports indicate that the Department of Homeland Security has petitioned the Pentagon for the assistance of over 20,000 National Guard members, aiming to bolster President Trump’s initiatives in border security and the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
According to reliable sources, Pentagon attorneys are currently evaluating this request concerning ‘interior immigration enforcement’. However, the specific duties of the National Guard in this context remain unclear. The New York Times, citing an anonymous Pentagon official, reported that it is also unclear whether state approval will be necessary for such a plan.
Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, stated that the requested 20,000 National Guard members would help enforce the President’s mandate to ‘arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens.’ She emphasized the prioritization of American citizens’ safety.
In the previous week, President Trump issued a directive to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, instructing her to ‘supplement existing enforcement and removal operations’ by employing an additional 20,000 officers. This force increase was intended to intensify the campaign against individuals who have failed to leave the country voluntarily.
The evidence suggests that National Guard troops usually operate domestically in supporting roles within immigration enforcement, offering help with logistics, security, and other necessary aid. However, if approved, this would be the first time that National Guard troops were used to enforce such a comprehensive effort against illegal immigration across the U.S.
To aid this initiative, the Trump administration has reportedly recruited agents and officers from other federal departments. The New York Times reported that officers from the Department of Justice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration have been enlisted to assist with arrests.
The administration has additionally sought help from local law enforcement. Recently, there have been agreements signed with local police departments that would enable them to make immigration arrests in cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to the Times, an operation in Florida last month, assisted by local law enforcement, resulted in the arrest of over 1,000 illegal immigrants.
This development follows earlier reports that Pete Flores, the Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, informed congressional lawmakers of a 99% decrease in illegal border crossings in less than four months of Trump’s second term.
The most significant challenge, however, is locating and deporting millions of illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. Last week, the DHS announced that it would offer $1,000 to illegal immigrants who voluntarily return to their home countries, as well as providing travel assistance.
The significance of this should not be overlooked. However, many questions remain unanswered about the potential impacts and implications of this broad effort against illegal immigration. And that’s the way it is, as we understand the facts today.
