Tom Homan, a former Trump administration official, has indicated plans to expand the use of the National Guard in the government's immigration enforcement efforts. He stated that while the National Guard cannot make immigration arrests, they can assist with security, transportation, infrastructure, and intelligence gathering.
A month prior to President Trump's federalization of the National Guard, the Department of Homeland Security requested 20,000 National Guard members to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to a memo, the National Guard would be involved in tasks such as assisting ICE in apprehending fugitives, guarding detention centers, and processing and transporting migrants. The Pentagon is currently reviewing the request and has not yet determined the number of troops to deploy.
Homan also expressed openness to deploying the National Guard to address protests, citing the situation in California as a potential model. He stated that the president would consider such actions on a case-by-case basis if protests escalate. A court ruling that initially deemed the troop deployment illegal was later blocked by an appellate court.
The administration has been exploring the use of the National Guard for immigration enforcement for several months, according to Homan. The partnership between ICE and the National Guard in Los Angeles has already been activated, with approximately 500 troops trained to support ICE agents during raids. These troops have provided security for immigration detentions.
Approximately 13,000 troops are currently stationed at the southern border. The administration is also considering using military bases to develop detention centers. Officials from the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense have toured several bases for this purpose. This would represent a significant increase in the military's involvement in immigration enforcement, potentially conflicting with legal restrictions on troop participation in domestic law enforcement.
Senator Tim Kaine, who previously deployed his state's National Guard to the southern border, expressed concerns about using the military for immigration enforcement. He argued that it could erode public trust and potentially escalate tensions. He questioned the rationale behind not utilizing other federal agents to work with ICE, suggesting that the use of the military is intended to intimidate.
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed support for the president's focus on border security and the work of law enforcement officials, including ICE. He also indicated that the National Guard could be deployed in other cities to address potential anti-deportation protests.
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