Military troops began arriving Thursday evening in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California, following President Donald Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency at the southern border.
Additional support from 1,500 active-duty troops includes 1,000 U.S. Army personnel and 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California who will receive their assignments along the border upon arrival.
“This represents a 60 percent increase in active duty ground forces since President Trump was sworn in on Monday,” Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said Wednesday evening.
Pentagon sends 1,500 more troops to southern border: US official
A group of more than 100 migrants attempting to enter the United States illegally are seen rushing against a border wall on March 21, 2024. In the process, the migrants overturned Texas National Guardsmen before being stopped by the border wall. (James Breeden for the New York Post/Mega)
There are already 2,500 American troops stationed on the southern border.
The troops were ordered there in May 2023 under the Biden administration under Title 10 authorities approved by former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and are expected to remain there through the end of fiscal year 2025, according to a door – United States Northern Command spokesperson.
The National Guard is also increasing its support and coordinating emerging needs with USNORTHCOM and US Transportation Command for additional personnel, military airlift, barrier construction and other capabilities to meet presidential and Secretary-General directives. Defense, according to a statement from the National Guard Public Affairs Office. Business.
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Active duty military personnel began arriving along the southern border Thursday evening after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to address the immigration crisis. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, file)
“The National Guard currently has more than 1,600 Guardsmen supporting the federal border security mission,” said Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau. “Together with our Joint Service partners, we are developing additional support options to meet the needs of USNORTHCOM, USTRANSCOM and Department of Homeland Security forces as this critical mission evolves.”
Additionally, more than 4,100 members of the Texas National Guard remain on duty at the border to support ongoing Operation Lone Star efforts.
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Some of the troops deployed to the southern border were on guard duty or actively working to support the California wildfires, although they were released from that mission and are now being reassigned, the senior official added.
Liz Friden, Stephen Sorace, Jennifer Griffin and Greg Wehner of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
