The Trump administration has been tight-lipped about the full scope of their deportation strategy.
But one leaked document just pulled back the curtain on their real plans.
And Phil Hegseth leaked one memo that revealed Trump’s massive deportation plan that will last for years to come.
Trump’s deportation operation is bigger than anyone imagined
President Donald Trump made border security and mass deportations a cornerstone of his 2024 campaign.
But the American people are just now learning the true scale of what the administration has planned.
A leaked Department of Homeland Security memo shows that Trump’s team is preparing for military-assisted deportation operations that could stretch on "for years to come."
The explosive document was written by DHS senior adviser Phil Hegseth outlining a July 21 meeting between Homeland Security and Defense officials.
Phil Hegseth happens to be the younger brother of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who would oversee any domestic deployment of U.S. soldiers.
The memo, obtained by The New Republic, outlines how the departments can "better plan for national security and illegal immigration" using the Pentagon’s "nationwide operational planning capabilities."¹
The memo exposes the administration’s long-term military strategy
The leaked document reveals three key action items that emerged from the July meeting.
First, it calls for military leadership – including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and NORTHCOM – to understand "the urgency of the homeland defense mission" and "the political importance the administration has placed on this issue."
Second, it establishes "a verbal agreement to find places where DoD can detail personnel within ICE and CBP (and vice-versa) to increase information sharing, and specifically support nationwide operational planning capabilities."
Third, it seeks "a clear understanding of each department’s capabilities, limitations and shared objectives."
But it’s the memo’s "Talking Points" section that reveals the most about the administration’s long-term vision.
The document explicitly states that domestic troop deployments could happen "for years to come."
"Everyone here is also aware of our joint work in L.A.," the memo reads. "It hasn’t been perfect, and we’re still working through best practices together, but I think it’s a good indicator of the type of operations (and resistance) we’re going to be working through for years to come."²
This references Trump’s June deployment of nearly 5,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to push back against protesters demonstrating against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in their neighborhoods.
This represents a historic shift in how America handles immigration
The leaked memo shows that the Trump administration views the immigration crisis as a long-term national security threat requiring sustained military intervention.
This marks a dramatic departure from how previous administrations have approached immigration enforcement.
Traditional immigration enforcement relied primarily on ICE agents and Border Patrol officers, with military involvement limited to support roles.
But the Hegseth memo reveals plans for deep integration between the Pentagon and immigration agencies.
The document calls for personnel exchanges between the Department of Defense and immigration enforcement agencies to improve "information sharing" and "operational planning capabilities."
The scale of military involvement outlined in this memo is unprecedented in modern American history.
The document also reveals that the administration is bracing for pushback – Phil Hegseth’s memo specifically mentions the "resistance" they encountered in Los Angeles and expects more of the same.
The political ramifications are already being felt
Democrats jumped on the leaked memo as proof of Trump’s "authoritarian overreach."
Trump supporters, however, see this as exactly what they voted for – a Commander-in-Chief who won’t let bureaucratic niceties stop him from protecting American communities.
The memo’s timeline of "years to come" tells you everything about Trump’s long-term vision. This isn’t a short-term border surge – it’s a complete overhaul of how America deals with illegal immigration.
Having both Hegseth brothers in key positions creates a direct pipeline between immigration enforcement and military planning. Phil drafts the strategy at DHS while Pete controls the Pentagon’s resources.
Trump has never been shy about pushing immigration enforcement beyond traditional limits.
The border wall, Remain in Mexico, and mass deportations all faced fierce opposition from the Left. Each time, Trump found a way to get it done.
This memo shows Trump’s team is preparing for their biggest challenge yet – using military assets to support deportation operations across multiple cities.
The Left will scream about "militarization" and compare it to authoritarian regimes.
Meanwhile, the memo reveals that Trump’s people are already planning for the inevitable protests and legal challenges from Democrat politicians and their activist allies who view any immigration enforcement as racist oppression.
But here’s what the opposition doesn’t understand – Trump’s base expects him to use every legal tool available to secure the border and remove criminals who shouldn’t be here in the first place.
The leaked memo confirms they’re getting exactly what they voted for – and why the Left is in full panic mode.
But the Trump administration clearly believes that the scale of the immigration crisis requires unprecedented measures.
This represents the kind of bold action that Trump promised during his campaign – using every available resource to secure the border and remove illegal aliens from American communities.
The leaked memo reveals that they’re preparing for a sustained, military-assisted campaign that could reshape American immigration enforcement for years to come.
Whether Americans support or oppose this approach, they now know exactly what the Trump administration has planned – and why Democrats are running scared.
¹ Michael Luciano, "Leaked DHS Memo Calls for Military To Help With ‘Nationwide’ Deportations ‘For Years To Come’," Mediaite, August 2, 2025.
² Ibid.
