Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to provide dozens of lawyers, including 48 attorneys and 4 paralegals, to support Justice Department offices near the U.S.-Mexico border. The move aims to bolster federal immigration enforcement efforts in West Texas, New Mexico, and Memphis.
The Pentagon is also sending up to 600 military lawyers as temporary immigration judges in a separate effort. The Trump administration has increasingly relied on the military to crack down on immigration enforcement, deploying troops to the southern border and several American cities.
Attorneys will be asked to support offices in West Texas, New Mexico, and Memphis, with specific requests for attorneys with experience in immigration and administrative law. The Justice Department did not provide details on the reason for its request or what the attorneys would be doing.
The Pentagon’s decision has raised questions about how it will impact the armed forces’ justice system, as military judge advocates have a range of duties similar to civilian lawyers. Despite concerns, some services are making the case that these roles offer valuable experience and opportunities for future use in the military justice system or civil litigation.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-military-attorneys-immigration-justice-department-cb352bdb6c1d9d6d68f79642d69c6363