DHS activating Volunteer Force to aid southwest border

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas communicated to his staff Monday the activation of the Volunteer Force to address the growing number of people seeking asylum in the U.S., according to an email obtained by The Monitor.

The force will help with the “overwhelming numbers of migrants seeking asylum” along the southwest border, a marked difference in tone after the secretary refused to label the situation at the border a “crisis,” but instead called it a “challenge” exactly a week ago.

“In 2019, over 900 volunteers deployed to support their CBP colleagues during a similar migration surge,” a portion of the email read.

The email provided a link to a page on the Volunteer Force under the headline “Now Activated.” It is seeking volunteers but is only open to DHS federal civilian employees.

“CBP requests your help as they are experiencing a significant number of migrants seeking entry into the U.S. along the Southwest Border,” read the webpage for Volunteer Force, which was linked in the letter. “No experience is required, just a willingness to serve and perform non-law enforcement duties that will help free up CBP law enforcement to continue to perform their critical front line duties to protect and secure our borders.

“For the nearly 1,000 of you that volunteered for similar duty in 2019, you know what a positive and rewarding experience it was to help CBP provide temporary care for the many migrants who sought entry into the U.S.

“Deployments are expected to last approximately 45 days (unless otherwise noted) and you may be working and living in austere conditions. COVID vaccinations are not required and volunteers may become eligible in certain circumstances for vaccine priority. The DHS Volunteer Force is only open to DHS federal civilian employees.”

Check back later for updates to this developing story.