The Pentagon announced that 1,500 active-duty troops will be sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to help secure it. This move follows plans that former President Donald Trump started through executive orders when he took office to control immigration. Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses confirmed that military aircraft will also support deportation flights for over 5,000 detained migrants, and the troops will assist in building border barriers.
The number of troops and their duties could change soon. Salesses mentioned that this is just the beginning. There is still uncertainty about whether these troops will perform law enforcement roles, which would be a major shift in their responsibilities.
Currently, around 2,500 National Guard and Reserve personnel are stationed along the border. This deployment includes 500 Marines from California, with the rest being Army personnel. These troops are expected to support Border Patrol agents, as they have in past administrations, including both Trump’s and President Joe Biden’s terms.
U.S. law, under the Posse Comitatus Act, typically prohibits active-duty troops from carrying out law enforcement duties. However, Trump has directed that a law called the Insurrection Act could be invoked, which would allow military personnel to perform such duties if needed. This law has been used before during major civil unrest, such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
This is part of Trump’s larger plan to tighten border security and crack down on illegal immigration, something he emphasized during his 2016 campaign. In his first week as president, Trump issued orders for the military to help seal the border and stop illegal immigration.
Over the years, military personnel have regularly been deployed to the border to assist in addressing issues like drug trafficking and migration. In the past, troops have helped with building barriers, providing medical care, and transporting Border Patrol agents.
It’s also possible that military bases could be used to house detained migrants, as they have in the past during emergencies like the Afghan evacuation in 2021. However, such facilities have faced challenges, including overcrowding and poor conditions.
