The Department of Homeland Security has requested the Pentagon to provide around 20,000 National Guard troops to aid in the removal of migrants lacking legal status in the United States. Military lawyers are currently reviewing this request. State governors would be approached to seek volunteers from their respective Guard forces for this purpose, although specifics on the timeline or recruitment process remain undisclosed.

The exact roles of the Guard troops in the removal process are yet to be defined, leaving uncertainty about whether they would focus on transportation, security, detainment, or arrests. This initiative marks a significant development as it would be the first time National Guard troops at a national level are involved in deportations. President Trump’s recent directive to increase the deportation force by 20,000 officers has expedited the consideration of utilizing Guard forces for this purpose.

While the possibility of federalizing the National Guard has not been mentioned, historical context from the 1992 Los Angeles riots suggests that such a move would transfer control of the Guard troops from governors to the federal government. The Trump administration has notably increased the deployment of active-duty troops along the U.S.-Mexico border to address security concerns and combat illegal immigration, with troop numbers now exceeding 10,000, a substantial rise from the previous administration.

The Pentagon’s recent expansion of control over a 60-foot strip of land along the border, known as the Roosevelt Reservation, underscores the military’s enhanced role in border security efforts, including the temporary detention of trespassers until local law enforcement can take over.