Posted on 08/23/25
| News Source: FOX News
The White House says National Guard activations in 19 states are unrelated to President Donald Trump’s push to expand Washington, D.C.’s federal crime crackdown to other cities.
Up to 1,700 National Guardsmen are set to mobilize in 19 states in the coming weeks to assist the Department of Homeland Security with the administration’s nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration.
That operation was initially announced last month and is not linked to potential federal intervention in crime-plagued cities, a White House official told Fox News.
"This isn’t new nor is it tied to the President’s efforts to address violent crime in DC," the official said late Friday.
"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."
Trump activated the National Guard in Washington, D.C., earlier this month as part of an effort to slash violent crime in the nation’s capital.
Touting the operation’s success — at least 465 arrests have been made — Trump has signaled he intends to broaden the D.C. mission to other cities. "We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to then go on to other places," he told federal agents and Guard troops Thursday at a D.C. patrol center.
On Friday, Trump added, "I think Chicago will be our next. And then we’ll help with New York."
The White House insisted that the operations are separate.