Washington, Dec 13 (NationPress) A recent report disclosed that the Trump administration redirected more than $2 billion from US military resources in 2025 to bolster immigration enforcement efforts. This diversion reportedly compromised military readiness and placed undue strain on servicemembers, as noted by Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

The document titled, “Draining Defense: Trump’s Immigration Stunts Cost Billions at the Expense of Military Readiness, Morale, and National Security,” indicates that the Department of Defense (DoD) has allocated billions for immigration-related tasks, expenditures that lawmakers argue extend beyond the military’s essential national security responsibilities.

According to the report, “The Department of Defense (DoD) has dedicated at least $2 billion to supporting immigration enforcement — money that should have gone toward supporting its core national security mission,” adding that the Pentagon anticipates spending “billions more” in the upcoming fiscal year.

Lawmakers assert that a significant portion of these funds has not been reimbursed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), compelling the Pentagon to reallocate resources from crucial military functions like training, housing repairs, and infrastructure improvements. The report highlights how these shifts have impacted everything from barracks upkeep to “repairs for elementary schools attended by the children of our servicemembers.”

It documents the extensive deployment of active-duty personnel and National Guard units for immigration enforcement, including assignments to the US-Mexico border and cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis. Lawmakers estimate that border deployments alone incurred costs of around $1.3 billion, while domestic deployments added another $258 million.

In Los Angeles, military support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) incurred an estimated cost of $172 million. These expenses encompass food, lodging, payroll, logistics, travel, and demobilization for thousands of Marines and National Guard personnel.

Detention operations on military properties accounted for additional hundreds of millions. The report reveals that DoD allocated over $420 million for detention activities, with more than $363 million spent at Fort Bliss in Texas. The facility has reportedly “violated at least 60 federal standards for immigrant detention.”

Furthermore, the Trump administration broadened the use of Guantánamo Bay for immigration detention, a notable shift from previous policy. The report cites that DoD spent approximately $40 million on detaining noncitizens there within the first month, pointing out that Guantánamo-related costs are significantly higher than domestic detention due to transportation, staffing, and infrastructure expenses.

Military aircraft were also utilized for deportation efforts, which considerably escalated costs. The report states that “it costs $28,500 an hour to operate a C-17, compared to $8,500 for a standard US Immigration and Customs Enforcement flight.” By September 2025, at least $33.1 million was expended on deportation flights using military aircraft, including individual flights to India costing “$3 million each.”

The report underscores the reassignment of military legal officers, with up to 600 Judge Advocate General (JAG) officers temporarily serving as immigration judges. This move is estimated to incur $55 million in pay and benefits, diverting legal officers from their military justice responsibilities.

Beyond the financial implications, lawmakers express concerns about the escalating risks to military readiness. Combat-ready units were reassigned to immigration-related missions, making them unavailable for contingency operations. National Guard deployments, the report states, also diminished states' capacity to respond to disasters such as wildfires and floods.

“The Trump administration must cease eroding the military’s core mission by reallocating its budget and essential resources to the DHS’s immigration functions,” the report concludes, advocating for full reimbursement and a halt to these diversions.

Immigration enforcement has consistently been a pivotal issue for the administration, often portrayed as a matter of national security.

According to the report’s authors, for US allies and partners, including India, deploying military resources for domestic law enforcement poses risks to America’s ability to tackle global security challenges, particularly in strategically sensitive areas.