‘Unusual’: Experts weigh in as Youngkin announces support for National Guard to assist with ICE

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Experts say the Department of Defense’s (DOD) recent announcement to allow National Guard troops to aid in federal immigration enforcement, could mark a significant shift in the role of Virginia's National Guard.

"Using Virginia National Guard troops, even in support functions for immigration enforcement, is unusual in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia," said VCU Political Science Professor John Aughenbaugh. "Primarily, what we've seen the National Guard be used for is domestic emergencies, like natural disasters."

However, on Monday, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that he supports the DOD's push.

"They won't be doing the ICE job, but they will be doing some of the administration and processing, and we're supportive of them doing that," Youngkin said.

Aughenbaugh said this is a stark contrast to the National Guard's deployment to California in June, when more than 1,000 troops were sent to respond to protests against ICE raids.

"You're not going to be seeing National Guard folks actually doing deportation raids," Aughenbaugh said.

Instead of patrolling the streets, Aughenbaugh said troops will likely be helping with things like administration, paperwork and transportation.

"But nevertheless, them doing support functions allows the existing ICE agents to focus on finding the individuals who are not here legally and then deporting them," Aughenbaugh said.

When expressing his support for this on Monday, Governor Glenn Youngkin said:

"We're committed to do this, and I expect that over the course of the month of August, we'll have some of our Virginia National Guard troops training for what they need to do. But again, it's logistics and administration and processing, and not the field stuff that, of course, ICE and law enforcement does. I do believe strongly that the role of the Virginia National Guard is not law enforcement in this case, it is actually to support the administrative side of things."

Still, as Aughenbaugh said, it could allow ICE agents to have more time for field work.

"That would suggest that Virginia is the next state that is going to see an increased number of ICE agents," he said.

The National Guard’s involvement follows President Trump’s budget proposal, which allocated billions to expand immigration enforcement staffing.

Aughenbaugh said, while it may take years for the funding to be fully utilized, this move could be a way for the government to take immediate action.