The U.S. military has deployed approximately 1,500 troops to the southern border to aid the Department of Homeland Security’s border security measures.
President Donald Trump signed several executive orders in his first hours back in the White House designed to curb illegal immigration, deport undocumented migrants from the United States back to their country of origin, and more aggressively target gangs and traffickers.
It’s not clear yet which units will be deployed to the southern border and when they will arrive there, though a senior military official told reporters it will consist of about 1,000 Army personnel and 500 Marines.
Acting Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses announced on Wednesday that he will deploy an additional 1,500 ground personnel, helicopters with associated crews, and intelligence analysts to support increased detection and monitoring.
“At my direction, DoD established a Task Force to oversee expedited implementation of the Executive Orders,” Salesses said in a statement. “This includes employment of U.S. military forces to carry out directed missions called for by the President. Commander, USNORTHCOM is the operational lead for this effort, supported by USTRANSCOM, the Military Services, and the NGB working alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).”
As a part of the wider efforts, the Pentagon will also provide military airlifts to support DHS deportation flights of more than 5,000 undocumented individuals from San Diego and El Paso, Texas. The military will also assist in the construction of physical barriers to add additional security.
“This is just the beginning. In short order, the Department will develop and execute additional missions in cooperation with DHS, federal agencies, and state partners to address the full range of threats outlined by the President at our nation’s borders,” Salesses added, though officials could not specify how many additional U.S. forces could get involved in the mission.
There were already roughly 2,500 active duty U.S. forces at the border as a part of Joint Task Force-North based out of El Paso prior to the order from the new administration.
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U.S. forces at the border are not involved in the arrest or detainment of migrants but serve in a more administrative capacity due to a law known as “posse comitatus,” which prevents active-duty U.S. troops from domestic law enforcement without authorization.
A defense official said earlier this week that the department is “fully committed to carrying out the orders from our commander in chief.”