South Carolina National Guard to Assist ICE with New Administrative Duties

The South Carolina National Guard has confirmed that it may soon be deploying 40 of its members to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with administrative tasks. The move, which is part of a broader federal effort to free up ICE agents for core law enforcement duties, is expected to be finalized before the end of the month.

The deployment will place the service members under Title 32 status, which means they will remain under the command and control of the state’s governor but receive federal funding and benefits. The Department of Defense updated the duty status to allow for military personnel to work more closely with ICE. The work will primarily focus on support roles, including case management, transportation, and clerical support for the in-and-out processing of individuals at ICE detention facilities.

This request for assistance from the Department of Homeland Security comes as part of a national initiative to enhance immigration enforcement. By providing logistical and administrative support, the National Guard will allow ICE to allocate more of its trained agents to core law enforcement activities. The locations where the South Carolina guardsmen will be deployed have not yet been established.