The article from NPR discusses a plan by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use National Guard troops for immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. According to a memo obtained by NPR, the National Guard would help with tasks like nighttime operations, patrolling rural areas, guarding detention centers, and managing crowds or disturbances inside these facilities. This is part of a broader effort to increase deportations and border security, with over 10,000 troops already stationed at the U.S.-Mexico border, compared to 2,500 during the previous administration. The plan has raised concerns, as it’s unusual to use the National Guard for these kinds of immigration tasks.
In simple terms, the government wants to use National Guard soldiers to help catch and deport immigrants, including working at night, in rural areas, and in detention centers to keep things under control. This is a bigger role for the Guard than in the past and is part of a push to strengthen immigration enforcement.
National Guard troops would be used in immigration-enforcement activities, including in “night operations and rural interdiction,” as well as “guard duty and riot control” inside detention facilities, according to a memo from the Department of Homeland Security obtained by NPR.
DHS officials requested 20,000 National Guard troops three weeks ago, but this memo details what duties those troops will be asked to perform. The memo, dated May 9, from Andrew Whitaker, the executive secretary at DHS, says the department will need up to 3,500 Guard personnel for its requirement to “Attempt to Locate — Fugitives.” Another 2,500 Guard soldiers would be needed for detention support.
The memo says up to 10,000 troops would be needed for transportation support, including “intra-and inter state transport of detainees/unaccompanied alien children.” And another 1,000 troops would be used for such duties as document translation and interview assistance.
The Pentagon has not yet approved the request.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told NPR: “DHS requested 20,000 National Guard members to help carry out the President’s mandate from the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens. The Department of Homeland Security will use every tool and resource available to get criminal illegal aliens including gang members, murderers, pedophiles, and other violent criminals out of our country. The safety of American citizens comes first.”
This would be the first time the National Guard has been asked to enforce an immigration crackdown within the United States, Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said at a hearing with Army officials Thursday.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told the committee that while the service is preparing to provide the forces, he had no details on what the troops would be doing, and said he would not deploy the Guard “for any unlawful purposes.” There are a number of unanswered questions, officials say, including whether sending troops from one state to another is lawful.