Military Deploying 1,500 Troops to Border, Official Says

According to reports from Wednesday, the Pentagon ordered around 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico Border. The Pentagon has ordered an additional 1,500 active-duty soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The order comes after President Donald Trump said that the military must increase its presence to bolster border security, reports CNN, quoting officials familiar with the order.

They are responsible for supporting the mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to secure the border.

According to the Associated Press, Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses is expected to sign the orders for deployment as early as Wednesday.

Border Patrol troops can now be freed from the logistical tasks of data entry, monitoring, and other law enforcement duties.

For over a century, a law prohibits active-duty troops from performing law enforcement duties without authorization.

A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report states that other laws and regulations prevent them from conducting searches or making arrests.

In a Monday executive order, Trump said that he will decide within 90 days whether he will invoke the Insurrection Act along the border of the U.S. with Mexico. This would allow him to use active-duty troops as law enforcement personnel or for arrests.

During his first term, Donald Trump sent 5,200 active-duty troops to the Mexican border. Joe Biden was the former president who also sent active soldiers.

In an order issued by Trump on Monday, the Pentagon was instructed to send the number of troops necessary to “completely operationally control the southern border” (border south) of the United States.

According to the Texas Military Department, “The Texas National Guard will also be in charge of Operation Lonestar, with around 4,500 National Guardsmen on the border.”

Active-duty troops will be expected to help with air operations and boost air assets. They will also provide intelligence specialists who assess migrant flow.

Since Biden’s order tightening up asylum rules, the number of migrants entering the United States has dropped dramatically. CNN reports that Homeland Security officials said 1100-1300 migrants illegally cross the border each day.