In a significant move reflecting ongoing efforts to secure America’s borders and strengthen our immigration systems, the Virginia National Guard has mobilized to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with essential logistical operations.
This mission, announced by Virginia National Guard officials on Friday, represents another practical step forward as states work in partnership with federal agencies, echoing President Trump’s longstanding call for stronger, more efficient immigration enforcement.
This week, 40 soldiers and airmen from the Virginia National Guard began working at ICE field offices throughout Virginia, focusing on non-law enforcement duties.
These men and women are not engaging in arrests or any direct enforcement, as the Guard made clear in a statement: “VNG [Virginia National Guard] personnel will not conduct law enforcement functions, and VNG support will not include making arrests.”
Instead, their role centers on the vital behind-the-scenes work that keeps agencies like ICE operating smoothly. They are answering phones, scheduling appointments, collecting biometric data, tracking expenses, and performing vehicle maintenance. These tasks may not grab headlines, but they are essential for ICE to operate effectively and efficiently.
This deployment is part of a larger plan, with more guardsmen from various units across the state expected to join in the coming weeks. The total number of personnel involved is projected to reach about 60, and the mission is set to continue through November 15.
The Guard’s involvement is carefully structured: the deployed soldiers and airmen will report directly to ICE leadership at their field offices but remain under the authority of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
This collaboration between state and federal agencies is a hallmark of the Trump era, when President Trump repeatedly emphasized the importance of empowering state leaders to work closely with federal partners on issues as crucial as border security and immigration.
By placing National Guard troops under the authority of state governors—even while their work is federally funded—this mission allows for the kind of flexible, responsive support that the Trump administration advocated.
This arrangement is codified under what is known as Title 32 status. As announced by the Department of Defense in July, Guard units supporting ICE are federally funded but remain under state control. This approach recognizes that local leaders know their communities best, and it ensures that National Guard operations remain adaptable and accountable at the state level.
It is important to recognize that this mission is not an isolated event. In fact, the National Guard has a long history of supporting law enforcement agencies—across both Democratic and Republican administrations—on non-law enforcement tasks.
Whether in California, Colorado, or now Virginia, the Guard has helped agencies with everything from disaster response to logistical support, freeing up law enforcement officers to focus on their core responsibilities.
What stands out today is the scale of National Guard involvement with ICE, which officials note is “unprecedented.”
This expanded support comes at a time when the challenges facing our immigration system are growing, and it demonstrates that state and federal leaders are responding with the seriousness and commitment that American citizens expect and deserve.
President Trump has made it clear time and again that American sovereignty and public safety must come first.
Therefore, this deployment sends a clear message: securing the nation’s borders and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system requires a team effort.
By supporting ICE with logistical expertise, the Virginia National Guard is helping to ensure that agents can spend more time on high-priority enforcement activities and less time bogged down by administrative tasks.
Moreover, this mission showcases the effectiveness of President Trump’s policy vision.
By fostering state-federal collaboration and empowering local leaders, we can address even the most complex challenges in ways that are efficient, responsible, and tailored to the needs of individual communities.
As the mission continues, it will stand as a reminder that, because of strong leadership and a renewed sense of partnership, Americans can have confidence in the nation’s ability to secure its borders while respecting the proper roles of state and federal authorities.
This is the kind of smart, focused action that delivers results—and it is exactly what President Trump has championed from the start.