The Pentagon is preparing to send an additional 1,000 active-duty troops to support President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown on immigration, U.S. officials confirmed Friday. The move is part of a larger effort to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and bolster the detention of migrants, including those potentially sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Around 500 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in New York will be deployed to the southern border, where they will assist with the installation of concertina wire barriers and provide support for Border Patrol operations. An additional 500 Marines will be sent to Guantanamo Bay to help prepare the facility for the potential detention of migrants, some of whom could be considered high-risk individuals.
These latest deployments come just a week after the Pentagon sent 1,600 troops to the border, marking a significant expansion of the military’s role in Trump’s immigration policies. The goal is to assist with logistics, intelligence, and transportation to aid Border Patrol efforts in controlling the border.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed the plans on “Fox and Friends” Friday, mentioning that Guantanamo could be used to house migrants in temporary detention facilities, including some who may be violent criminals or gang members. These detainees could be placed in facilities designed to handle maximum-security inmates.
In addition to the troops, the U.S. military is providing aircraft for the deportation of detained migrants, with some expected to be sent to Guantanamo. President Trump recently stated that his administration plans to send the “worst criminal aliens” to Guantanamo, citing concerns that some countries would be unable to safely detain them upon their return.
With the total number of military personnel potentially reaching as high as 10,000, the Pentagon’s actions underscore Trump’s firm stance on border security and his determination to tackle illegal immigration.
