WASHINGTON (June 12, 2025) — The Pentagon is reviewing a sweeping request from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deploy more than 20,000 additional National Guard troops across the country in support of the Trump administration’s escalating immigration enforcement campaign.
According to defense officials and internal documents obtained by USA TODAY, the requested deployment would assist with tasks including:
- Tracking fugitives
- Responding to riots at detention centers
- Searching for unaccompanied minors in remote or hazardous terrain
The proposal marks a significant escalation in the use of military resources for domestic enforcement, raising alarm among lawmakers and civil rights advocates. If approved, the yearlong deployment could cost taxpayers an estimated $3.6 billion, according to a U.S. official familiar with the planning.
Military Bases Eyed for Detention
As the administration anticipates a surge in detained migrants, military officials and Customs and Border Protection personnel have been touring bases from New Jersey to California to assess their viability as makeshift detention centers.
The plan appears to build on recent moves by President Trump, including:
- Ordering 4,000 California National Guardsmen to Los Angeles
- Deploying 700 active-duty Marines to the city, despite strong opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom
That current deployment alone is expected to cost $134 million.
Civil-Military Tensions Mount
Critics argue the strategy risks undermining the foundational American principle of separating the military from domestic law enforcement.
“Using the U.S. military to support immigration enforcement within our own borders would threaten the longstanding American principle of separating law enforcement from military power,” said Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), ranking member of the Armed Services Committee.
“It would erode civil liberties and set a dangerous precedent for the militarization of American communities.”
Reed emphasized that while he has supported billions in funding for smart immigration enforcement, “that is a duty for law enforcement, not the armed forces.”
A Shift in Military Doctrine?
In a June 10 hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted at a broader transformation of the National Guard’s role in domestic operations.
“The United States is entering a new phase,” Hegseth said. “The National Guard will become a critical component of how we secure the homeland.”
Whether the Pentagon ultimately approves the DHS request remains uncertain. A senior defense official said it’s unclear how many Guard members are currently available to support the operation, as units are already committed to a mix of overseas and disaster relief missions.
The request arrives amid intense national debate over the legality, scope, and humanitarian implications of using military forces in immigration enforcement, with potential constitutional challenges looming.
