The Pentagon confirmed that up to 1,700 National Guard troops will mobilize in 19 states over the coming weeks to assist the Department of Homeland Security in President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration and crime.
White House officials emphasized that planning for these activations began before Trump’s recent comments about expanding Washington, D.C.’s enforcement model nationwide.
Planning documents list deployments in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming, with Texas expected to host the largest Guard presence. The orders extend through mid-November.
Defense officials said the Guard will bolster ICE operations with case management, transportation, logistics and clerical work, including collecting personal data, fingerprints, DNA samples and photographs of migrants in custody. The troops will serve under Title 32 authority, which exempts them from Posse Comitatus restrictions on military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
Trump has signaled plans to expand operations beyond Washington, D.C., telling agents Thursday, “We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to then go on to other places.” He later said Chicago and New York would likely follow.
State officials emphasized that the soldiers would not conduct arrests but remain under governor control while reporting operationally to ICE. A White House official said the Guard activations are “not the same as the President’s actions to stop crime in D.C.,” stressing that the missions are limited to DHS logistical and clerical support.
