Pentagon Prepares to Deploy Thousands of Troops From Combat Units to Border
In response to the worsening humanitarian crisis at the US-Mexico border, the Pentagon is preparing to deploy thousands of active-duty troops from combat units to support border operations, sources familiar with the plan revealed.
The deployment, which is expected to begin in the coming weeks, will see up to 5,000 troops from various military branches, including the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard, withdrawn from their combat duties to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The troops, who will be deployed under the authority of the Department of Defense (DoD), will be tasked with providing logistical support, setting up medical facilities, and conducting surveillance and intelligence gathering to help stem the flow of migrants and asylum seekers into the US.
The unprecedented deployment is a response to the stalemated situation at the border, where thousands of migrants have been massing at the US-Mexico border, seeking to claim asylum and seek refuge. The surge in migration has put pressure on the country’s existing customs and immigration resources, prompting concerns about national security, public health, and local resources.
The military deployment is alluded to by Pentagon sources as Operation Faithful Patriot, with the goal of augmenting the efforts of law enforcement officials, border patrol agents, and other agencies to secure the border and maintain public safety.
The deployed troops will be required to provide additional resources to assist in the following areas:
* Setting up around-the-clock medical facilities to tend to migrants who may be injured or ill
* Providing food, water, and shelter for migrants
* Conducting surveillance and intelligence gathering to monitor and deter illegal border crossings
* Assisting law enforcement agencies in processing and detaining migrants who are deemed to be inadmissible
* Establishing communication lines and networks to facilitate the flow of information between government agencies and other stakeholders
While the specific details of the deployment are still sketchy, sources suggest that the troops will be required to be deployed for at least 90 days, with potential extensions depending on the developing situation at the border.
The move is seen as a historic escalation of military involvement in border security, following similar deployments in the 1980s and 1990s. Critics have raised concerns about the potential for militarization of the border and potential human rights violations, while proponents argue that the deployment is necessary to address the national security and public health crisis unfolding at the US-Mexico border.