Overview

• A June 1 memo authorizes DOD civilian employees to assist Department of Homeland Security in southern border operations and internal immigration enforcement for the first time.
• Defense Department leaders declined to disclose how many civilians will be detailed, what their duties will entail or whether participation will be voluntary.
• Pentagon policy prohibits civilian staff from performing law enforcement tasks, meaning they will not detain migrants or make arrests.
• Detail assignments may be reimbursable or non-reimbursable, requiring DHS to cover salaries unless missions qualify as Pentagon-approved training or career development.
• The authorization follows a May DHS request for 20,000 National Guard troops for interior operations and the recent deployment of 1,115 active-duty soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border, boosting total military support to nearly 10,000 personnel.