In a move aimed at intensifying efforts against illegal immigration and crime, the Trump administration has activated up to 1,700 National Guard soldiers across 19 states.
According to Daily Mail, the deployment, planned to last until at least mid-November, will provide crucial assistance to ICE and Homeland Security efforts.
The states involved in this mobilization include Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. Among these, Texas is slated to have the most significant National Guard presence over the coming months.
The National Guard's responsibilities will span case management, transportation, logistical aid, clerical duties, and crime prevention. Further expansion of this deployment to major cities such as Chicago and New York is under contemplation, according to officials.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the deployment of troops in Washington, D.C., with the capacity to carry weapons and perform law enforcement roles. This decision reflects a broader strategy of federal intervention in local law enforcement activities following recent events in the nation’s capital.
On August 11, President Trump exerted federal control over Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department utilizing powers granted under Washington’s Home Rule Act. This move has been part of a broader federal strategy extending beyond traditional National Guard roles.
An opinion survey conducted by The Washington Post-Schar School indicates a notable divide in public sentiment regarding these actions. Around 69% of D.C. residents expressed strong opposition to the federalization of the police and deployment of the National Guard, contrasting with only 9% who voiced strong support. This issue reveals the complexities in public opinion about federal involvement in local governance.
A Pentagon spokesperson conveyed details of the National Guard's operational scope, stating it includes "personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing, and photographing." The official clarified that while there is no confirmed plan for further operations, strategic planning with agency partners continues.
The official emphasized, "We won't speculate on further operations, but can tell you that the department is a planning organization and continues to work and plan with other agency partners to protect federal assets and personnel."
President Donald Trump has strongly hinted at intervening in other cities, particularly Chicago. During a recent media interaction, he expressed a readiness to extend similar measures to Chicago, suggesting potential action following perceived successes in Washington, D.C.
Characterizing Chicago's situation, President Trump remarked it was a "mess" and criticized the city’s leadership as "grossly incompetent." He reinforced his stance by asserting plans to "straighten that one out probably next."
In dialogue with Vice President Mike Pence, Trump indicated a belief that local residents in Chicago, including African-American women, were ostensibly asking for federal intervention. The President noted their expression through symbolic "red hats," portraying it as a significant public demand.
As the Trump administration prepares to deploy the National Guard across 19 states, these forces will support ICE and Homeland Security's operations aimed at curbing illegal immigration and crime. Notably, the mobilization could extend into major cities like Chicago and New York, following similar interventions in Washington, D.C. However, this approach faces public dissent, particularly regarding federalized control of local police and security agencies. Ultimately, these developments remain part of a broader strategy potentially reshaping federal and local law enforcement cooperation in the U.S.
