Trump says he’ll use National Guard to deport migrants, doubling down on anti-immigration rhetoric

Trump says he’ll use National Guard to deport migrants, doubling down on anti-immigration rhetoric

Donald Trump recently stated that if reelected, he would utilize the National Guard as part of efforts to deport millions of migrants across the United States. These remarks reflect a doubling down on his anti-immigration stance, which was a significant factor in his previous political ascent.

Trump made these comments during an extensive interview with Time magazine earlier this month, with the accompanying story published online on Tuesday. While he didn’t provide specific details on how deportation operations would be conducted or the National Guard’s exact role, he indicated a willingness to use active duty military if necessary but expressed confidence that the National Guard could handle the task.

Historically, U.S. military forces, including both National Guard and active duty personnel, have been deployed at the border to support immigration enforcement. However, directly involving National Guard forces or active-duty military in deportations, particularly within the country’s interior, would represent a significant escalation and could face legal challenges.

During Trump’s first term, the Department of Homeland Security explored the possibility of using National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants, although these plans were ultimately not implemented. Past presidents, including George W. Bush and Barack Obama, have deployed National Guard troops to enhance border security in initiatives such as “Operation Jumpstart” and “Operation Phalanx.”

Both Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump have utilized active duty troops and National Guard forces to enhance border security and support immigration-related tasks. However, these forces have been deployed in limited capacities, such as data entry, surveillance, warehouse support, or logistical assistance, without direct interaction with migrants. Their roles are intended to supplement immigration personnel and facilitate their operations.

The responsibility for finding and removing individuals from the country primarily falls under the Enforcement and Removals Operations arm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This process involves identifying, arresting, detaining, and deporting individuals who are deemed ineligible to remain in the country. Removals often entail significant time and expense, often requiring air transportation, and are complicated by challenges in securing cooperation from other countries to accept deported migrants.

Federal law generally prohibits the use of active-duty military for law enforcement activities within the United States unless specifically authorized by Congress. When questioned about potentially overriding these restrictions, Trump emphasized that the individuals targeted for deportation are not civilians but rather individuals who are unlawfully present in the country. He characterized their presence as an “invasion,” aligning with his staunch anti-immigration rhetoric.

Trump has consistently prioritized cracking down on immigration, framing it as a central theme of his reelection campaign. He has employed derogatory language towards migrants, describing them as “poisoning the blood of the country” and dehumanizing those suspected of crimes as “animals.” Additionally, he has pledged to end birthright citizenship and reinstate his travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries.

how both Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump have utilized active duty troops and National Guard forces to bolster border security and support immigration-related tasks. However, these deployments have typically been limited to roles such as data entry, surveillance, warehouse support, or logistical assistance, aimed at aiding immigration personnel without direct engagement with migrants.