Starting Thursday evening, active-duty military personnel will begin deploying to El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.
This marks the first wave of troops assigned to bolster security efforts along the southern border, according to defense officials.
Troop Deployment Details
On the previous day, the Pentagon announced that around 1,500 service members would head to the border this week, following a directive from President Donald Trump aimed at speeding up immigration enforcement measures.
U.S. officials note that more troops could be called upon shortly, as leaders from defense and homeland security assess further requests for support.
This troop deployment illustrates a shift towards a more aggressive immigration strategy seen during the Trump administration.
While the precise number of additional forces that may be deployed remains unconfirmed, officials hinted that contributions could come from active-duty personnel, National Guard, and reserve members across all military branches including land, air, and sea.
Preliminary projections suggest that the total could climb into the thousands.
Initial Contingent of Troops
Among the initial contingent of 1,500 troops, approximately 1,000 Army soldiers from various units will be joined by 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton, California.
Most of these personnel are expected to arrive in El Paso or San Diego by Friday, ready to receive their assignments and gear up for their roles at the border.
In addition to the incoming troops, around 2,500 National Guard and Reserve forces are already stationed at the border, which means the overall military presence will increase.
Considering the extensive 2,000-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, additional military resources will play a crucial role in the setup of concertina wire barriers and will provide vital transportation, logistical, and intelligence support to Border Patrol agents.
Military Support Operations
As of Thursday, officials have not requested military bases for housing migrants or deploying troops for any law enforcement activities.
Source: Militarytimes