Read on PBS NewsDefense Secretary Orders Military Lawyers to Support Justice Department in Memphis and Border Regions
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the military to provide 48 attorneys and 4 paralegals to the Justice Department for temporary assignments in Memphis and along the U.S.-Mexico border. The deployment, which could extend through fall 2026, represents the latest effort to bolster federal legal resources in regions experiencing heightened immigration enforcement operations. This initiative follows a previous Pentagon approval to send up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges, highlighting the administration's continued reliance on military legal personnel to support domestic law enforcement priorities.
In a significant development for federal law enforcement operations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to deploy dozens of attorneys to support the Justice Department in key regions across the United States. This directive, outlined in a memo dated October 28, 2025, and reviewed by The Associated Press, represents a substantial commitment of military legal resources to domestic law enforcement efforts.
Deployment Details and Locations
The memorandum specifically calls for the identification of 48 attorneys and 4 paralegals from within the military departments to serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys. According to the AP report, these legal professionals will be assigned to three primary locations: Memphis, Tennessee, where National Guard troops have been deployed by President Trump; West Texas, covering the cities of El Paso, Del Rio, and Midland; and Las Cruces, New Mexico. The temporary assignments are scheduled to potentially run through the fall of 2026.
Expanding Military Legal Support
This deployment represents the latest in a series of efforts to integrate military legal personnel into Justice Department operations. The initiative follows a separate September approval by the Pentagon to send up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges. The Trump administration has increasingly turned to military resources to support its immigration enforcement strategies, including previous deployments to the southern border and various American cities.
Qualifications and Implementation
While the memo doesn't specify the exact nature of the litigation these attorneys will handle, it emphasizes that ideal candidates should possess significant experience in immigration and administrative law, in addition to general prosecution and litigation background. The Pentagon expressed pride in supporting law enforcement partners, stating they aim to "bring the skill and dedication of America's service members to deliver justice, restore order, and protect the American people."
The services faced a tight deadline, with only until Thursday following the memo's release to identify suitable attorneys. The document also alluded to the possibility of involuntary mobilization orders if sufficient volunteers weren't found, indicating the urgency and importance the administration places on this initiative.
