The Pentagon will begin deploying up to 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border in the coming days to support Border Patrol agents. The deployment, which is part of President Donald Trump’s plan to crack down on immigration, will provide logistical, transportation, and construction support to the border.
The troops will not be performing law enforcement duties, but it remains to be seen if they will be used to assist in detaining migrants. Trump has directed the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to report back within 90 days on whether the Insurrection Act should be invoked, which would allow active-duty troops to be used in civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil.
The deployment comes as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) faces an unprecedented surge in migration, with over 2,000 migrants arriving at the border each day. The CBP has requested additional resources to address the situation, including detention space, transportation, and logistics services.
The troops will be used to support the construction of barriers, provide transportation for Border Patrol agents, and assist with communication and security efforts. This is not the first time the military has been deployed to the border, with active-duty troops having been sent to the border in 2018 and 2021 to support border security efforts.
It is unclear if the troops will be used to house detained migrants, as has been done in the past. The Trump administration has faced criticism for its handling of migrant children, with reports of overcrowding, poor conditions, and a lack of adequate care at facilities used to house them.