Up to 1,700 National Guard troops mobilizing across 19 states in immigration crackdown

Trump deploys National Guard to 19 states

U.S. President Donald Trump is continuing his crackdown on crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration by deploying National Guard troops to several states across the country. Fox News confirms that those states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. This comes as the Pentagon announced on Friday that it began ordering troops stationed in Washington D.C. to carry firearms. LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow spoke with Retired Police Lt. Jeff Wenninger to break down the latest.

Nearly 1,700 National Guard troops are set to mobilize across 19 states in the coming weeks to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement, Pentagon officials confirmed to Fox News.

The large-scale rollout, planned to run from late August through mid-November, is one of the most significant National Guard activations in recent years. 

Documents reviewed by Fox News show deployments are scheduled in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.

Texas is expected to see the largest Guard presence.

What Guard troops will do

What we know:

The Pentagon said Guard members will not be conducting arrests but instead will support ICE with case management, transportation, clerical duties, and logistical functions at processing facilities.

Their responsibilities may include collecting personal data, fingerprinting, photographing and DNA swabbing detainees in ICE custody so immigration agents can focus on enforcement.

Because the mobilization falls under Title 32 authority, troops will remain under the command of their state governors while coordinating directly with DHS. Unlike active-duty military, Guard forces under Title 32 are not restricted by the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of federal troops in civilian law enforcement.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear exactly how many Guard troops will be assigned to each state or how long the deployments will last. Pentagon officials have said the timelines could vary depending on coordination with state governors and DHS needs.

President Donald Trump stands with National Guard members and law enforcement officials during a visit to a security operation in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Officials have also not detailed how frequently Guard members may be involved in detainee processing tasks such as DNA swabbing, or whether their roles could expand beyond administrative and logistical support as operations continue.

White House: Separate from Trump’s crime crackdown

Dig deeper:

The deployment comes as Trump has touted progress in his federal anti-crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., where more than 2,200 Guard troops and federal officers have been stationed in recent weeks.

At least 465 arrests have been made in the capital since the operation began, according to officials. Trump has suggested Chicago and New York could be next.

"We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to then go on to other places," Trump told a group of agents and Guard troops at a D.C. patrol center Thursday.

But the White House emphasized the 19-state mobilization is not part of that crime crackdown.

"This isn’t new nor is it tied to the President’s efforts to address violent crime in D.C.," a White House official told Fox News. "DoD announced last month that National Guard troops would assist DHS with clerical support and other logistical tasks for processing illegal aliens at ICE facilities. It is separate from the federal interagency crime crackdown."

What's next:

Most of the 19-state operations remain in the planning stage and will begin rolling out in early September. In Virginia, about 60 Guard troops will start training Aug. 25 and begin duty in September, state officials confirmed.

The Pentagon said it continues to coordinate with DHS and governors to determine the scope and duration of the deployments.