Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Israel-Iran
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
  • Research
    • Briefs
    • Explainers
    • Reports
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / Military analysis / How Trump is leaning on the military to fulfill his hopes of mass deportations and an immigration freeze
Military analysis, Basing and force posture

March 28, 2025

How Trump is leaning on the military to fulfill his hopes of mass deportations and an immigration freeze

Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior fellow and director of military analysis at the think tank Defense Priorities, told Military.com that transferring federal land for that kind of border operation is a notable change in tactics.

“Regardless of how they’re going to use it, it would be a major step because it would be a departure from what has been the past of just using active-duty forces at the border as you would use CBP [Customs and Border Protection] or National Guard personnel,” Kavanagh said.

Read at Military.com

Featuring

Jennifer
Kavanagh

Senior Fellow & Director of Military Analysis

Defense Priorities

More on Western Hemisphere

ExplainerAmericas, Air power, Counterterrorism

No GWOT-Narco

By Daniel DePetris and Christopher McCallion

July 2, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Americas, China, Iran, Middle East, Russia

How not to do multipolarity

By Anthony Constantini

June 28, 2025

In the mediaGrand strategy, Alliances

US reviewing AUKUS submarine pact as part of ‘America first’ agenda

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

June 11, 2025

In the mediaGrand strategy

Trump’s cost-benefit doctrine defines foreign policy, 80 years post-WWII

Featuring Edward King

June 3, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Americas

Don’t go down to Mexico

By John Kitch II

May 31, 2025

op-edGrand strategy

DOGE Has Its Sights on the Defense Department

By Gil Barndollar

May 9, 2025

Events on Military analysis

See All Events
virtualMilitary analysis, Naval power

Past Virtual Event: Naval power: American shipbuilding capacity and competition with China

May 27, 2025
virtualMiddle East, Basing and force posture, Diplomacy, Houthis, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Military analysis, Syria

Past Virtual Event: Trump in the Middle East: Impacts, implications, and alternatives

May 16, 2025
virtualUkraine‑Russia, Air power, Diplomacy, Drones, Europe and Eurasia, Land power, Military analysis, Russia, Ukraine

Past Virtual Event: Ukraine’s critical choice: Pursue peace or fight on

April 16, 2025

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2025 Defense Priorities All Right Reserved