The Trump administration is reportedly planning to mobilize up to 1,700 National Guard troops across 19 states in the coming weeks.
The deployments, they claim, are to support the assist the Department of Homeland Security with immigration and anti-crime crackdowns.
The Independent reports: the troops, who will largely be activated across Republican-controlled states, will serve in support of the administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, as well as other law enforcement priorities, according to comment from unnamed Pentagon officials and documents obtained by Fox News.
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The Guardsmen assisting ICE will be carrying out tasks that may include “personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing and photographing of personnel in ICE custody,” an official told outlet.
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The deployments will take place across the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming, per Fox.
Texas is reportedly slated to have the largest deployment.
The Independent has contacted the reported states for comment, as well as the central National Guard leadership and the Department of Homeland Security.
The Guardsmen will be serving under Title 32 Section 502F authority, in which they technically remain under state command and control, but can assist with federal missions and are paid with federal funds. The status allows them to avoid running afoul of a federal law limiting military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
When asked about the reported operation, the Defense Department referred The Independent to a Julyannouncement from the Pentagon changing the status of troops supporting ICE to Title 32 and adding 500 additional personnel to the mission, bringing it to a total of approximately 1,700 troops.
The statement said the troops could be involved in “direct interaction with individuals in ICE custody,” and that the mission stemmed from a May request from the Department of Homeland Security for assistance.
