In a significant development highlighting the Trump administration’s intensified focus on immigration, the Department of Homeland Security has asked the Pentagon for over 20,000 National Guard personnel to support immigration enforcement efforts across the United States.
According to Breitbart News, the request marks a major expansion of President Donald Trump’s interior immigration crackdown and could lead to the unprecedented deployment of military forces inside the country for immigration control purposes.
First reported by The New York Times, the DHS request was made public on Thursday, citing two U.S. officials familiar with the deliberations. According to the report, the move followed a new directive issued by President Trump the previous week, encouraging the department to boost its ranks by bringing in thousands of officers from both state and federal agencies.
Pentagon Reviews National Guard Request
Defense Department attorneys are currently examining the legality and practical implications of the DHS proposal. Specifically, the department is analyzing how the use of National Guard soldiers aligns with laws governing interior immigration enforcement, an area where military personnel traditionally play a limited role.
A Defense official who spoke under the condition of anonymity told reporters that it remains unclear if the troops would be directly involved in identifying, arresting, or deporting undocumented immigrants. Furthermore, the same official said that the specifics of their operational use, should the request be approved, are yet to be determined.
Historically, National Guard units have only supported immigration enforcement through indirect roles such as providing logistics, aerial surveillance, and administrative support. A mission involving direct engagement with undocumented immigrants inside the U.S. interior would represent a substantial shift.
Trump’s Previous Calls for Guard Deployment
In January 2024, before returning to the White House, President Trump urged governors to mobilize their state National Guard units to assist in removing undocumented individuals at the southern border. Those calls were framed as a response to what Trump has often described as a failure of previous leadership to maintain border security.
During his current term, Trump has made immigration enforcement one of his top priorities. Citing what he called an ongoing national disaster, Trump declared the U.S.-Mexico border a national emergency on April 30, asserting that Mexican cartels should be treated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
Shortly after that declaration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a large-scale operation in Nashville, Tennessee, resulting in the arrests of nearly 200 undocumented individuals, several of whom were wanted for serious crimes such as murder and drug trafficking.
Voluntary Deportation Proposal Draws Attention
President Trump has also floated a controversial proposal involving voluntary deportation. Speaking in support of the plan, Trump said that the government would offer payments to undocumented immigrants who opt to return to their countries of origin.
According to Trump, the program would include organizing transportation for participants and may permit them to reapply for legal return to the United States under certain conditions. “What we thought we’d do is a self-deport,” Trump said. “We’re going to pay each one a certain amount of money, and we’re going to get them a beautiful flight back to where they came from.”
If they meet the criteria, he added, “It will give them a path to coming back into the country.” The plan has yet to be introduced formally or evaluated by Congress or relevant agencies.
Escalating Interior Immigration Efforts
The current proposal to use National Guard forces internally is seen as part of Trump’s escalating approach. Since taking office, the administration has enacted several policy shifts targeting undocumented immigrants within the United States’ borders, not just those attempting to cross illegally.
Officials report that U.S. border crossings have dropped to historic lows during Trump’s initial 100 days back in office. DHS has attributed this decline to increased enforcement and public messaging meant to deter unlawful entry. In alignment with the administration’s priorities, thousands of undocumented immigrants with criminal records have been arrested or identified for deportation in 2025, according to federal enforcement data.
Officials Weigh Legal Hurdles to Military Aid
Even if the Pentagon approves the request, implementation will likely face legal and logistical hurdles. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement, especially in civilian contexts not tied to national emergencies or disasters.
Trump, in public statements, has emphasized that extraordinary measures are necessary. “In the face of this National Security, Public Safety, and Public Health Catastrophe,” he said, “Texas has rightly invoked the Invasion Clause of the Constitution and must be given full support to repel the Invasion.”
Awaiting Pentagon and Governor Responses
No timeline has been provided for when a decision on the DHS request is expected. Until then, state and federal officials are likely to continue discussions about the scope of authority, operational logistics, and funding for any potential deployment. Governors, who typically oversee their state’s National Guard units, will also have a say, especially if their forces are activated for missions within U.S. borders. Legal analysts predict state-level opposition could delay or even block the plan in some areas.
