The mobilization expands President Donald Trump’s use of federal forces to address illegal immigration and violent crime, following his decision earlier this week to send Guard troops into Washington, D.C.
The National Guard activations will begin in August and run through at least mid-November, with the largest concentration of troops assigned to Texas, a key border state.
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According to Pentagon officials, Guard members will provide support for ICE operations including case management, transportation, logistics, and clerical work.
They will also assist in deterrence measures.
“The in-and-out processing may include personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing and photographing of personnel in ICE custody,” a Pentagon official told Fox News.
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“We won’t 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,” the official said.
The expanded deployment follows Trump’s move on August 11 to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. under authority granted by the city’s Home Rule Act.
The Act provides for a local mayor and city council but stops short of full statehood, leaving Congress with oversight powers and granting the president authority over the D.C. National Guard.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also authorized Guard units deployed to Washington to carry weapons and perform law enforcement duties, ABC News reported.
At a press event in the Oval Office Friday, Trump suggested Chicago would be next in line for federal assistance.
“When we’re ready we’ll go in and we’ll straighten out Chicago, just like we did D.C.,” Trump told reporters during a World Cup-related event.
He criticized Chicago’s Democratic mayor by name.
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Standing beside Vice President J.D. Vance, Trump added that city residents were calling for action.
“And the people in Chicago, Mr. Vice President, are screaming for us to go. They’re wearing red hats, just like this one. But they’re wearing red hats,” Trump said, wearing a cap with the phrase “Trump Was Right About Everything.”
He also said black women in the city had personally urged him to intervene.
“African-American ladies, beautiful ladies, are saying, ‘Please, President Trump, come to Chicago,’” Trump said.
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The expansion of National Guard support across 19 states signals that Trump’s law enforcement strategy will play a central role in immigration enforcement and public safety policy in the months leading up to November.