The deployment of National Guard troops to major U.S. cities for immigration enforcement has accrued costs nearing $500 million for taxpayers, according to a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This expenditure covers operations from June 2020 through the end of the year and encompasses deployments to six cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis, Portland, and Washington, D.C.
The CBO’s findings reveal that the Trump administration’s actions to send National Guard troops for immigration enforcement have resulted in significant financial implications. The report states that approximately $496 million has been spent as of December 2020. The CBO cautions, however, that future costs remain uncertain, primarily due to the unpredictable factors surrounding the scale, duration, and locations of these deployments.
Cost Projections and Deployment Challenges
Continuing the current level of National Guard deployments could incur an estimated $93 million per month through the end of 2025. For deployments of 1,000 troops to a U.S. city in 2026, costs could range between $18 million and $21 million monthly, influenced by local cost of living.
President Trump initiated these deployments in June 2020, aiming to safeguard federal personnel and property amidst escalating protests tied to immigration enforcement operations. In August, additional troops were sent to Washington, D.C. to support the administration’s efforts to combat crime. By October, the federalization of 300 Illinois National Guardsmen was ordered despite objections from Governor JB Pritzker. Furthermore, 200 Texas National Guardsmen were dispatched to Chicago.
The situation evolved rapidly, with troop withdrawals occurring in December from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. This decision followed a Supreme Court ruling that stated the administration had not established a valid legal basis for the military to enforce federal laws in Illinois.
Congressional Inquiry and Public Response
The CBO report was commissioned by Senator Jeff Merkley, the Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, who sought a detailed analysis of the costs associated with activating, deploying, and compensating National Guard troops. In a statement, Merkley expressed concern over the financial burden on taxpayers, emphasizing, “The American people deserve to know how many hundreds of millions of their hard-earned dollars have been and are being wasted on Trump’s reckless and haphazard deployment of National Guard troops to Portland and cities across the country.”
The CBO’s assessment highlights the significant financial implications of military deployments in urban settings, fostering ongoing debate about the appropriateness of such actions in relation to immigration policy and public safety.
As discussions continue regarding the future of National Guard deployments, the financial aspects remain a pivotal point of contention for lawmakers and the public alike.
