In a move that emphasizes the administration's strong stance on immigration, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed the military to provide dozens of lawyers to the Justice Department for temporary assignments. These lawyers will assist in immigration enforcement efforts, particularly in Memphis and along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a memo reviewed by the Associated Press.
The directive, issued on a recent Monday, calls for the selection of 48 attorneys and four paralegals from the military branches, tasked with serving as special assistant U.S. attorneys. This comes as the Justice Department grapples with increasing workloads amidst ongoing immigration enforcement activities.
This latest memo follows previous Pentagon efforts to send military attorneys to functions related to federal legal proceedings, with a focus on jurisdictions heavily impacted by immigration issues. Last month alone, the Pentagon authorized the deployment of up to 600 military lawyers to act as temporary immigration judges, reflecting the administration's increasingly militarized approach to immigration issues.
The Justice Department has requested that these lawyers possess significant experience in immigration law and general prosecution to effectively address the challenges posed in locations like Memphis, El Paso, and New Mexico, where there is a noted increase in immigration-related cases.
While the memo does not specify the exact nature of the legal work to be undertaken by these military volunteers, the urgency of mobilizing military attorneys seems tied to the broader national focus on immigration control and enforcement policies, a hallmark of the current administration.
The Pentagon stated its commitment to assisting law enforcement partners, emphasizing the role of military personnel in enhancing the function of justice and public safety.
The Justice Department has confirmed the receipt of Hegseth's memo but has not elaborated on the expected assignments for the military lawyers. This deployment raises questions about the potential impact on military legal services, which are already vital to sustaining the armed forces’ judicial activities.
As government energy intensifies around immigration enforcement, the voluntary nature of these assignments is shrouded in urgency given the additional mobilization orders referenced in Hegseth's communication.
In summary, the mobilization of military lawyers stands not just as a legal maneuver but as part of a strategic move to consolidate federal enforcement capabilities during a period of heightened immigration scrutiny.
