Pentagon Deploys 1,115 More Troops to Southern Border Amid Immigration Crackdown

Over 1,100 service members from multiple branches are set to join the expanding border mission, contributing to the more than 8,000 troops currently on active-duty orders since late January. 

The newest deployment features logistics, engineering, and medical personnel assigned to assist in achieving “full operational control of the southern border,” as stated by U.S. Northern Command.

Troops are being deployed from more than six different units spanning the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy. Personnel are engaged in various tasks, including supporting Joint Task Force-Southern Border, operating field kitchens, building infrastructure, and delivering medical assistance. 

A spokesperson for Northern Command, Air Force Capt. Mayrem Morales stated that the deployment is part of a larger buildup and is not linked to any particular incident.

Specific military units are deployed away from the border, providing support for air, maritime, or intelligence operations from their home bases. Some personnel engage in patrols utilizing armored Stryker vehicles, while others carry out coastal surveillance from Navy ships or operate aircraft such as U-2 spy planes and drones.

The military has assumed control of federal lands in border regions, where troops are engaged in the detention of migrants on trespassing charges. In a significant development, over 100 cases have been dismissed in federal courts.

The Department of Homeland Security has formally requested 20,000 National Guard troops to assist with deportation efforts. In a related development, certain migrants have been detained at Guantanamo Bay or transported out of the country on Air Force aircraft.

Morales highlighted that the total number of troops varies in response to rotations and evolving mission requirements, describing the initiative as “all-domain,” encompassing land, air, sea, and cyber operations.

‍