• DHS seeks 20,000 National Guard troops to assist with immigration enforcement.
• This marks a significant expansion of military involvement in domestic immigration policy.
• The role of the National Guard in these operations remains unclear.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally requested the Pentagon to mobilize approximately 20,000 National Guard troops to assist with the Trump administration's immigration enforcement initiatives. This request, prompted by President Trump's orders to increase the deportation force, is currently under review by military officials, highlighting a notable shift in domestic military engagement in immigration matters, according to The New York Times, NPR, and CBS News.

Under the proposed plan, state governors will be asked to volunteer National Guard members to support the removal of undocumented migrants. The specific roles these troops will play—ranging from logistical support to potential detention of migrants—remain to be defined. For instance, Texas Governor Greg Abbott previously authorized state Guard members to make immigration arrests, setting a precedent for this type of involvement, while no current federal plans to federalize the National Guard exist, according to NPR and CBS News.

This request is part of a broader strategic move by the Trump administration to enhance immigration enforcement capabilities. Currently, there are about 8,600 active-duty troops stationed at the U.S.-Mexico border, engaged in various support roles. Recent developments include the creation of National Defense Areas along the border and increased naval operations to aid in border security, which emphasizes the administration's commitment to more stringent immigration enforcement tactics, according to The New York Times and CBS News.

In a statement, Tricia McLaughlin from DHS noted, "The Department of Homeland Security will use every tool and resource available to get criminal illegal aliens out of our country," underlining the administration's focus on deporting violent offenders as part of this expansive operation, according to CBS News.