President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reportedly requested over 20,000 national security personnel to assist with immigration matters.
According to two U.S. officials cited in a report published Thursday, this request comes after the Pentagon was instructed by Trump to bolster ranks by bringing in 20,000 officers from various state or federal agencies.
The Pentagon is currently weighing this request related to “internal immigration enforcement,” though it’s still unclear what specific duties National Guard members would assume or if they would take part in deportation efforts, as noted by a Pentagon official who chose to remain anonymous.
The National Guard has typically supported domestic agencies in addressing immigration issues at the border by providing logistics and safety assistance. However, if approved, this would mark the first instance of using National Guard forces for enforcement actions against U.S. immigrants.
Previously, prior to his re-election, Trump urged a state governor in January 2024 to deploy National Guard soldiers for immigrant removals across the border, as reported by Breitbart News at the time.
Trump emphasized that in light of a national security crisis, the state of Texas has rightfully invoked constitutional measures to combat what he termed “aggression.”
Border security and immigration enforcement have since become top priorities for Trump’s administration, particularly as they aim to mitigate the impacts of former President Joe Biden’s open border policies.
In the first 100 days of Trump’s new term, illegal border crossings reportedly dropped to historic lows, and his administration has focused on deporting numerous criminal illegal aliens, according to April 30 reports from Breitbart News.
Additionally, Trump has labeled the border situation a national emergency while designating the Mexican cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.
Recently, Trump discussed those opting for self-deportation, stating his belief that they would simply need to pay a fee to receive a “beautiful flight back” to their home countries, which he suggested might pave a way for their return.
In the meantime, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made headlines by arresting nearly 200 individuals involved in serious crimes in Nashville, Tennessee, among them wanted killers, rapists, and drug dealers, as reported by Breitbart News.
