Trump administration DENIES it's considering mobilizing up to 100,000 National Guard troops to round up illegal immigrants – but White House source says it 'has been discussed'
White House press secretary Sean Spicer forcefully denied on Friday that the Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up illegal immigrants, including millions living nowhere near the Mexico border.
'That is 100 per cent not true. It is false. It is irresponsible to be saying this,' Spicer told reporters aboard Air Force One.
'There is no effort at all to round up, to utilize the National Guard to round up illegal immigrants.'
An 11-page document seen by The Associated Press and later obtained by DailyMail.com calls for the unprecedented militarization of immigration enforcement as far north as Portland, Oregon, and as far east as New Orleans, Louisiana.
Marked 'from' Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly – although he likely did not write it – the draft memo directs the department to work with governors 'of the States adjacent to the land border with Mexico and those States adjoining such border States.'
- Proposal reportedly making the rounds at the Department of Homeland Security would identify 11 immigrant-heavy states and ask them to mobilize troops
- Governors would have an opt-out privilege, but the total number of National Guardsmen and women could approach 100,000
- White House press secretary Sean Spicer says an 11-page draft seen by The Associated Press 'is not a White House document'
- Spicer insists the AP report that the plan is under consideration 'is 100 per cent not true. It is false. It is irresponsible to be saying this'
- A White House aide confirms to DailyMail.com that the idea 'has been discussed' but wouldn't say if it has been recommended to President Donald Trump
- The potential aim would be to hasten the removal of 'criminal aliens' like those Trump railed against on the campaign trail
- A Trump executive order greatly expands that group and may include people whose only 'crime' was sneaking across the border
White House press secretary Sean Spicer forcefully denied on Friday that the Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up illegal immigrants, including millions living nowhere near the Mexico border.
'That is 100 per cent not true. It is false. It is irresponsible to be saying this,' Spicer told reporters aboard Air Force One.
'There is no effort at all to round up, to utilize the National Guard to round up illegal immigrants.'
An 11-page document seen by The Associated Press and later obtained by DailyMail.com calls for the unprecedented militarization of immigration enforcement as far north as Portland, Oregon, and as far east as New Orleans, Louisiana.
Marked 'from' Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly – although he likely did not write it – the draft memo directs the department to work with governors 'of the States adjacent to the land border with Mexico and those States adjoining such border States.'
