The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally asked for the deployment of 20,000 National Guard troops to support immigration roundups across the country, raising new questions about the federal government’s use of military resources for interior enforcement operations.
The Pentagon has acknowledged receipt of the request and is evaluating its scope and legal basis. According to reporting by ABC News, the move could significantly enhance the operational reach of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), although details about the proposed roles for the Guard remain limited.
The request signals a shift in enforcement priorities without yet revealing the full extent of planned actions.
Scope and Intent of the Deployment
According to Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for DHS, the troops were requested to carry out President Donald Trump’s
Mandate from the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens – McLaughlin stated that DHS would
Use every tool and resource available” to achieve that mandate because the “safety of American citizens comes first.
Unlike troops stationed at the southern border, these units would be deployed within the interior of the country. The mission could involve assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in direct support of arrest and removal operations.
The legal structure of the deployment remains unclear. The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits federal troops from engaging in domestic law enforcement unless they remain under state governors’ control.
Whether the National Guard units would operate under federal or state command could significantly impact the scope of their permissible activities.
ICE Workforce and Expected Impact
ICE currently has around 20,000 personnel divided into three operational divisions. Of these, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the division directly responsible for arrests and removals. ERO comprises approximately 7,700 staff, including just over 6,000 law enforcement officers.
The addition of 20,000 National Guard troops would potentially double the available personnel supporting immigration enforcement in the interior, dramatically increasing operational reach and capacity.
Legal Ambiguity and Chain of Command Concerns
It remains unclear why the request was made to the Department of Defense instead of the states, which normally control their own National Guard units. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted the unusual nature of the appeal, suggesting that legal review is underway.
Deploying troops for immigration enforcement under federal command would pose serious legal hurdles under U.S. law. If the troops remain under state authority, they may be used more flexibly for support roles or possibly even detentions, depending on state policies.
The United States already has approximately 10,000 troops deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border, operating under both state and federal orders. These personnel are currently tasked with transport airlift, surveillance, administrative support, and bolstering physical infrastructure like the border wall.
Troops are not directly detaining migrants. Instead, they support U.S. Border Patrol agents by creating operational efficiencies that allow law enforcement officers to focus on arrests.
Conditions in the New Militarized Border Zone
In the newly designated militarized zone in New Mexico, troops have been seen installing warning signs and accompanying federal agents.
Still, they have not been authorized to carry out detentions themselves. The area marks a significant change in the physical and legal landscape of U.S. border policy.
Federal magistrate judges in New Mexico have begun dismissing national security charges against migrants accused of entering the United States through the militarized zone. The courts cited lack of evidence that the accused were aware they were entering a military-restricted area, undermining the government’s case.
The request for the 20,000-troop deployment was first reported by the New York Times, highlighting the high-level nature of the DHS initiative and its broader political implications.
The proposal adds to a pattern of executive actions under the Trump administration that frame immigration as an existential threat.
While the Pentagon continues its review of the legality and logistics of the plan, the initiative underscores the administration’s intent to maximize immigration enforcement capacity using military resources, even within U.S. borders.
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