US deploys 1,500 troops and extra assets to boost southern border security
Acting on Trump’s directive
The United States Department of Defence (DOD) is sending 1,500 active-duty troops and additional resources to assist with border enforcement operations at the southern border of the United States.
The decision comes just over 36 hours after newly inducted US President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order to address security concerns along the southern border, declaring a national emergency and directing the DOD to take immediate action.
US Acting Secretary of Defence Robert Salesses announced the move in a statement.
“On Monday, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border of the United States to protect the safety and security of US citizens,” the statement read. “He directed me to take all necessary actions to support the efforts of the Secretary of Homeland Security in gaining full operational control of the border.”
In response to the presidential directive, the Pentagon has set up a special task force to manage the swift implementation of the executive orders. US Northern Command is spearheading the operation with support from the US Transportation Command, the National Guard Bureau, the military services, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to Salesses’ statement, the additional 1,500 active-duty service members will boost the 2,500 troops stationed at the southern border, representing a 60% increase in military personnel since President Trump’s inauguration on Monday. These forces will support efforts to secure the border, including constructing physical barriers and other related missions.
The 1,500 additional troops will include 1,000 US Army soldiers and 500 US Marines. These troops had been on standby in Southern California to assist with wildfires in Los Angeles County potentially. However, they have been redirected to the southern border, where the wildfires have stabilised. A senior military official confirmed that the personnel will begin deployment within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Primary tasks
The troops’ primary tasks will include providing real-time situational awareness of individuals, vehicles, vessels, and aircraft along the border. They will also assist US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with maintaining, moving, and staging border assets.
Beyond the additional ground forces, the DOD will also provide significant airlift support to DHS. This includes deploying two C-130 Hercules and two C-17 Globemaster aircraft to assist with the deportation of over 5,000 individuals detained by CBP at border sectors in San Diego and El Paso, Texas. The C-130 and C-17 aircraft will help transport these individuals to their destinations as part of ongoing deportation efforts.
Military helicopters are also being deployed to assist. UH-72 Lakota helicopters began operations this week, supporting CBP and enhancing the department’s aerial capabilities. In addition, the DOD is providing intelligence analyst support at the border and is working to improve situational awareness through airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets.
Salesses’ statement highlighted that the DOD’s involvement is part of a broader, collaborative effort involving federal, state, and local partners. He noted that while specific future missions have not yet been disclosed, additional operations will be developed to address a wide range of border-related challenges in the coming weeks.
“This is a major priority for the Department of Defence under both the acting secretary and the incoming secretary,” a senior defence official explained. “We will be working closely with DHS and other federal and state agencies to tackle the full spectrum of threats identified by the president at our nation’s borders.”
The DOD emphasised that President Trump expects immediate results from the military’s actions at the southern border.
“The president has directed the Department of Defence to secure our borders, and we are carrying out his orders with urgency and precision,” Salesses said. “The military’s efforts will contribute to the broader goal of ensuring the safety and security of all Americans.”
Image: Aerial view of the Pentagon headquarters on May 15, 2023. Credit: DOD/US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza
Last Updated on 1 day by Arnold Pinto
