In a decisive move to bolster national security and address illegal immigration, President Donald Trump is set to deploy up to 1,700 National Guardsmen across 19 states.
This initiative is part of the administration's broader strategy to curb illegal immigration, a key issue for the President. The states slated for this military presence include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming, with Texas anticipated to experience the most significant impact.
As reported by One America News, this deployment comes on the heels of President Trump's recent efforts to combat crime in Washington, D.C., utilizing the National Guard. The White House, however, has been quick to dispel any notions that this new plan is merely an extension of the militarization of the nation's capital.
A White House official clarified, "This isnt new nor is it tied to the Presidents efforts to address violent crime in DC." The Department of Defense had previously announced that National Guard troops would assist the Department of Homeland Security with clerical and logistical support at ICE facilities, a move distinct from the federal interagency crime crackdown.
The deployment of the National Guard beyond D.C. is a component of a national interagency initiative aimed at deterring illegal immigration, providing crucial support to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This support is particularly vital as illegal immigration surged at the end of the previous presidential administration. The Guardsmen are expected to undertake tasks such as "personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing, and photographing of personnel in ICE custody," according to an official familiar with the operations.
President Trump envisions the extensive use of the National Guard as integral to his overarching plan to enhance safety in American cities. He has expressed intentions to extend this initiative to more left-leaning states, citing requests from citizens for intervention.
"African-American ladies, beautiful ladies, are saying, Please, President Trump, come to Chicago, he remarked, indicating Chicago as a potential next focus. In the Oval Office, he stated, I think Chicago will be our next. And then well help with New York. He further criticized Chicago's leadership, saying, Chicago is a mess. You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent and well straighten that one out probably next, that will be our next one after this and it wont even be tough.
Despite his determination to tackle crime and illegal immigration nationwide, the President acknowledged that he has not yet reached out to Democratic leaders, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, to implement his plans through military means.
A U.S. Defense official provided additional context, stating, We wont 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.
This strategic deployment underscores the administration's commitment to securing the nation's borders and addressing crime, reflecting a conservative approach to governance that prioritizes law and order.
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