Upwards of 1,700 National Guard soldiers will be sent to 19 U.S. states to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as it tackles President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to stop illegal immigration and crime, according to a report.
Citing Pentagon officials, FOX News broke the story Friday.
The states include the following:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Wyoming
The media outlet said the soldiers will be sent to the various states “in the coming weeks” and will remain posted through mid-November.
The in-and-out processing may include personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing and photographing of personnel in ICE custody,” a U.S. Defense official told FOX News, adding that service members will also be supporting ICE with “case management, transportation, logistical support, and clerical functions associated with the processing of illegal migrants at the facilities.”
The media outlet also noted “Texas is projected to host the most significant Guard presence.”
The news comes after Trump recently sent National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. to combat crime and clean up the nation’s capitol city.
Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard and Police are doing a fantastic job. They are out in force, and are NOT PLAYING GAMES!!! As bad as it sounds to say, there were no murders this week for the first time in memory. Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City! Washington D.C. will soon be great again!!!”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that National Guard members patrolling D.C. will be armed.
The D.C. National Guard’s Interim Commanding General retains the authority to make any “necessary force posture adjustments” while coordinating with D.C. police and federal law enforcement, according to a statement from a Pentagon official.
“At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, JTF-DC members supporting the mission to lower the crime rate in our Nation’s capital will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training,” a portion of the statement read.
Trump has said D.C. is just the first place he is tackling. He said he will soon set his sights on Illinois, as well as New York.
“I think Chicago will be our next,” he said Friday during a news conference at the Oval Office. “And then we’ll help with New York.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE: WJLA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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