A Homeland Security spokesman said that the department received requests for protection from Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson. According to ABC News, it is typical for frontrunner candidates to request protection from the Secret Service this time of year, although it is rare that they will be given security before they officially get their nominations from their party.

The SS makes few exceptions, especially when based on threats. For instance, then Sen. Barack Obama received early protection when threats against him increased. In this case, The Guardian reported that the secret service offered protection for Carson when threats and evidence of political candidate targeting became apparent. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton has had the secret service trailing her since her days as First Lady, and has the same protection in the campaign today.

For the most part, however, the security personnel are not given automatically. The spokesperson said that as of now, the requests from both Trump and Carson are "under review pursuant to the statutorily required process," which means that a few people from the congress have to approve the requests, including Speaker John Boehner, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Harry Reid.

The Homeland Security spokesman also said, "As prescribed by statute, authorization for Secret Service protection for presidential candidates is determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security after consultation with a congressional advisory committee which includes the Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and one additional member selected by the aforementioned committee."

Once the requests for protection are approved, Homeland security will activate a 24-hour protection for the candidates, and will involve around 260 agents, as reported by Fox News.

Carson's campaign will not comment of the apparent request, but it seems that Carson himself is not too keen for it. "I don't feel the need for it, quite frankly, but the Secret Service thinks that I need it. So, you know, it is what it is. I recognize that someone like me who is very truthful and who really doesn't subscribe to all the traditional power scriptures is probably gonna be a target," he said.

So what happens when a candidate refuses to accept protection, despite his campaign's request for it? A US Government official told NBC News that they are not required to have protection, and as a citizen, if Carson refuses to be followed around by the SS, he is not required to have it.