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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week authorized the mobilization of up to 700 troops to assist federal immigration officials in Florida, Louisiana and Texas in processing detainees at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
“These service members, drawn from all components and operating in a Title 10 duty status, will provide logistical support, and conduct administrative and clerical functions associated with the processing of illegal aliens at ICE detention facilities,” officials wrote in the press release.
“They will not directly participate in law enforcement activities,” It added.
Title 10 of the U.S. Code outlines the structure and scope of the Armed Forces, including the president’s power to federalize state National Guard units in certain situations, such as rebellion.
President Trump and Hegseth have cited the same power in mobilizing up to 700 Marines to support ICE agents in California, where thousands protested against the Trump administration’s workplace immigration raids and many were arrested.
The Defense secretary was repeatedly questioned during congressional hearings last week on the necessity of deploying troops in Los Angeles.
“Threatening to use our own troops on our own citizens at such scale is unprecedented, it is unconstitutional, and it is downright un-American,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) told Hegseth.
He repeatedly said the troops were fulfilling a constitutionally allowed role of protecting federal law enforcement agents.
California has sued the administration over what it calls federal overreach, while Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has warned the precedent could quickly expand to other states.
A group of retired generals and former civilian heads of military branches submitted an amicus brief on Sunday as the legal fight plays out in federal court.
“While the President is entitled to criticize his opponents in political terms, involving the military in domestic political controversies risks harming the military’s ability to recruit and retain servicemembers and garner broad public support for its budgets and programs, therefore undermining its ability to achieve its core mission of protecting the nation,” said the brief, from six former military generals and admirals and two former branch secretaries.
“It is precisely for this reason that the military should be kept out of domestic law enforcement whenever possible,” the group added.
The Hill has asked the Pentagon for additional details about its latest order.
“In maintaining the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States, the Department of Defense works alongside with the Department of Homeland Security, the lead federal agency in this critical effort,” the Pentagon said in Tuesday’s press release.
“This support provides critical resources to support ICE’s mission, freeing up law enforcement personnel to focus on law enforcement tasks and missions,” it added. “The Department remains committed to securing 100% operational control of the border.”
The news comes after Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) said the state’s National Guard was also prepared to “ensure peace & order” as protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown spread beyond California.
