Stanton NDAA Amendments Would Bar Trump Administration’s Use of Military Personnel and Resources for Immigration Enforcement

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) offered two amendments to the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to stop the Trump Administration from turning America's military into an arm of its immigration crackdown. This comes amidst reports from Bloomberg Law that the Department of Defense (DoD) is planning to begin involuntarily activating military lawyers to serve as immigration judges and to represent the government in cases involving detained migrant children. DoD has previously requested civilian employees to collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in border security missions. "The Trump administration keeps blurring the line between national defense and their chaotic, cruel immigration agenda. The Department of Defense should be focused on real threats to our national security," said Stanton. Stanton’s first amendment would bar the Department of Defense from using funds to enter into new contracts—or execute existing ones—to support domestic immigration enforcement. The amendment directly targets a Trump administration scheme to use DoD contracting authority to help DHS sidestep local oversight, state laws, and federal procurement requirements to fast-track a nationwide network of warehouse-style ICE detention facilities , including one in Surprise, Arizona. A similar effort was led by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) to amend the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2027 Defense appropriations bill. Stanton’s second amendment would prohibit DoD funds from being used to allow department staff to volunteer for or support immigration enforcement operations. The amendment responds to a memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year authorizing DoD civilian employees to serve in a 180-day volunteer program embedded at ICE and CBP facilities—with some required to deploy within 96 hours of approval. Text to Stanton’s first amendment HERE . Text to Stanton’s second amendment HERE .