Trump Administration Seeks Deployment of 20,000 National Guard Troops to Bolster Immigration Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has submitted a request for more than 20,000 National Guard personnel to support the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts, according to informed U.S. officials.

This request to the Department of Defense follows President Trump's directive last week for Homeland Security to expand its workforce by integrating 20,000 additional agents from state and federal agencies.

Pentagon lawyers are currently reviewing the proposal with a focus on its implications for domestic immigration enforcement, a Defense Department official said anonymously while describing internal discussions. The official added that it remains uncertain what specific roles state National Guard members would play or if they would participate directly in apprehending individuals for deportation.

It is also unclear if state governments would need to grant approval for this plan.

Historically, National Guard troops have provided logistical and security support to federal authorities on immigration matters at the border. However, if approved, this would be the first instance where Guard members are deployed to assist directly in enforcing immigration crackdown measures within the country.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the request, stating that the department would “utilize all available tools and resources” to fulfill the president’s mandate to “detain and deport illegal foreign criminals.”

“Protecting the safety of American citizens remains the top priority,” the spokesperson added.

These steps to enhance immigration enforcement capabilities are part of a broader push to increase deportations and detentions, aimed at fulfilling President Trump’s promises of “mass deportations,” which have yet to be fully realized. Such operations require extensive resources, including significant surveillance efforts.

To bolster these efforts, the administration has enlisted agents from other federal entities, including the Department of Justice. This week alone, approximately 2,000 personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have been mobilized to assist with detentions.

In the early months of the administration, agents from the ATF and DEA primarily supported Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by securing arrest scenes and augmenting teams responsible for pursuing undocumented immigrants.

Additionally, the Trump administration has sought cooperation from local law enforcement agencies. In recent months, agreements have been signed enabling local police to conduct immigrant detentions in partnership with ICE. For instance, late last month, Florida law enforcement assisted ICE in an operation that led to the arrest of over 1,000 undocumented migrants.