WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press.

The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys — both military and civilians — to the Justice Department “as soon as practicable,” and the military services should have the first round of people identified by next week, according to the Aug. 27 memo.

The effort comes as the Trump administration more regularly turns to the military as it through ramped-up arrests and . Its growing role in the push includes , National to support immigration enforcement efforts, housing people awaiting and to carry out deportations.

The administration's focus on illegal immigration has added st

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