Donald Trump has unveiled plans involving the deployment of National Guard soldiers to various crucial states.
The former president has initiated a move that will see 1,700 National Guard soldiers activated across the nation.
These troops will be mobilized from August through to at least mid-November, with a substantial number being stationed in Texas.
Additional states expecting a National Guard presence include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
A Pentagon official commented on the decision, stating to Fox that these soldiers will also help prevent criminal activities.
The official refrained from speculating about the potential for the National Guard to expand to other states.
They stated: “We won’t speculate on further operations, but can tell you that the department is a planning organization and continues to work and plan with other agency partners to protect federal assets and personnel.”
The primary role of the soldiers will be to support ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.
This move aligns with Trump’s consistent stance on being tough on crime and illegal immigration.
This initiative follows the deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., after Trump expressed on social media his commitment to enhancing the state.
Earlier this month, on Truth Social, he wrote: “I’m going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before. The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital.
“The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
As for specific duties, the National Guard troops will assist ICE with case management, transportation, logistical support, and clerical functions.
The official mentioned: “The in-and-out processing may include personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing and photographing of personnel in ICE custody.”
This development follows Trump praising the effectiveness of soldiers in Washington, hinting at future deployments.
In remarks to reporters on August 22, he said: “When we’re ready we’ll go in and we’ll straighten out Chicago, just like we did D.C.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whom Trump described as ‘grossly incompetent’, later clarified he had not received any official communication from the former president. He added, “Certainly, we have grave concerns about the impact of any unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to the City of Chicago. The problem with the president’s approach is that it is uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.”