A U.S. Border Patrol agent watches as immigrants prepare to board a bus after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas, Jan. 7, 2024. The Defense Department is creating a program to allow its civilian workforce to volunteer to go to the southern border to support operations there. (John Moore/Getty Images)
"Protecting our homeland from bad actors and illegal substances has been a focus of the President and of the Secretary of Defense since Day One of this Administration," said Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesperson. "Whether on the border or in our communities, allowing qualified DoD civilian employees to support DHS will accelerate the progress already made by Service members in achieving our national security goals."
This voluntary program was at the request of DHS, a U.S. official told Fox News.
NOEM, DHS OUTLINE NEXT STEP TO SPEED UP DEPORTATION PROCESS
A Border Patrol agent on horseback monitors the area near where the U.S.-Mexico border fence meets the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 7, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
"Non-reimbursable details are authorized where the expected benefit of a detail would be comparable to training or development programs that otherwise would be conducted at a DoD Component's expense."
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News of the voluntary program comes as the Trump administration continues to crack down on illegal immigration and target criminal illegal immigrants for deportation.
Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-voluntary-deployment-dod-civilian-workers-back-homeland-security-efforts-immigration-crackdown