The Pentagon has confirmed that up to 1,700 National Guard troops will be mobilized across 19 states in the coming weeks to support the Department of Homeland Security as part of President Donald Trump’s push to crack down on illegal immigration and crime.
According to documents obtained by Fox News, Guard activations are planned in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. Deployments will begin in late August and run through mid-November, with Texas hosting the largest Guard presence.
Support Role for ICE
Defense officials said the troops will not conduct arrests but will provide case management, transportation, clerical work, and logistical support to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Their duties may include data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing, and photographing individuals in ICE custody.
“The National Guard will act as a support pillar for federal agencies and serve as a visible deterrent force,” a Pentagon official explained.
Most forces remain in the planning stage, but operations in Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, and Nevada are expected to begin in early September. Virginia officials confirmed about 60 Guard members will start training on August 25 for deployment in early September.
Distinct from D.C. Operations
The deployments are separate from the nearly 2,000 Guard members already serving in Washington, D.C., where they have been assigned to monuments, checkpoints, and traffic posts to deter crime under Trump’s direct authority. Those troops can carry weapons if necessary, unlike state-based missions where governors maintain control under Title 32 authority.
While the Pentagon stresses the Guard’s role will remain administrative and logistical, critics have raised concerns about how closely their duties approach law enforcement functions. Officials argue the Title 32 status ensures the missions remain within the law.
Trump’s Broader Plan
Trump has signaled his intent to expand security operations beyond the capital. Speaking at a D.C. patrol center, he told federal agents and Guard troops: “We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to then go on to other places.” He later suggested Chicago and New York could be next.
White House officials emphasized that the planned state deployments predate Trump’s latest comments about expanding the D.C. mission. “The National Guard mobilizing to assist ICE with clerical and logistical tasks is not the same as the President’s actions to stop crime in D.C.,” a spokesperson said.
Governors Hold the Final Say
Under Title 32 authority, governors control Guard units in their states, meaning mobilization timelines will vary. Vermont has declined to participate, despite authorization from the Pentagon.
As deployments expand, the administration insists the effort is aimed at bolstering immigration enforcement and deterring criminal activity. “The big question is how long do we stay,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “We have to take care of these criminals and get them out.”
