Federal deployment of the National Guard in 19 states is allegedly unrelated to President Trump's anti-crime initiative, according to White House officials.
In a significant move, President Donald Trump has signaled his intention to broaden the ongoing crime crackdown in Washington, D.C. to other cities, specifically mentioning Chicago and New York.
The National Guard forces have been actively patrolling the streets of the nation's capital since earlier this month, when Trump activated the National Guard as part of an effort to reduce violent crime in Washington, D.C. The National Guard soldiers and airmen, numbering at least 2,279, have been mobilized in the capital, having completed their training.
Their presence is visible across Washington, D.C., with National Guard members carrying out patrols at Metro stations, Union Station, the National Mall, and alongside U.S. Park Police. The Guard's role includes maintaining a visible security presence, deterring crime, and assisting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with clerical support and logistical tasks.
The operation in Washington, D.C. has already resulted in at least 465 arrests. Trump has hinted that the National Guard may remain in the city for an extended period and that the mission could expand to other parts of the country.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved hundreds of additional National Guard forces for ICE support and switched existing approvals from Title 10 to Title 32 status at the request of DHS. This change in status does not apply to the Posse Comitatus Act, allowing National Guard members to carry weapons if needed in Washington, D.C.
The deployment of 1,700 National Guardsmen to assist DHS with the administration's nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration was first announced on July 25 in a Pentagon press release. Up to 600 National Guard soldiers are divided into two groups of 300, stationed at military bases in Alabama and Arizona, to help with federal campaigns against illegal immigration starting this month.
The operation in Washington, D.C. is also linked to beautification efforts ahead of next year's 250th Independence Day celebration.
Michael Dorgan, a writer for our website Digital and Fox Business, is closely following this development. You can send tips to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan for the latest updates.
It is important to note that the National Guard activations in 19 states are unrelated to President Trump's push to expand Washington, D.C.'s federal crime crackdown to other cities. The operation to assist DHS with clerical support and other logistical tasks for processing illegal aliens at ICE facilities was initially announced last month and is not linked to potential federal intervention in crime-plagued cities.
Under direct presidential authority, National Guard members have been posted to monuments, checkpoints, and traffic stops across all eight wards of Washington, D.C., maintaining a visible security presence and contributing to the ongoing efforts to reduce crime in the city.
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