Troops have begun arriving 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 the 1,500 active troops consists of 1,000 U.S. Army personnel and 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton, California, who will take up assignments along the border upon arrival.
“This represents a 60% increase in active ground forces since President Trump was sworn in on Monday,” Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said in a statement late Wednesday.
Send 1,500 additional troops to southern border: U.S. officials
On March 21, 2024, more than 100 immigrants attempting to enter the United States illegally were seen rushing up the border wall, during which the immigrants were knocked down by Texas National Security Guards before they were stopped by the border wall. (James Breeden for New York Post/Mega)
There are already 2,500 U.S. service members on our southern border.
The troops were ordered in May 2023 under Title 10 authorities approved by former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and will remain there until the end of fiscal 2025, according to a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson.
The National Guard is also coordinating support and coordination requirements for additional personnel, military airlift, barrier construction and other functions that meet the President and National Defense directives, according to a statement from the National Guard Bureau. affairs.
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Active 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 Guard members supporting the federal border security mission,” said Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, director of the National Guard. “As this important mission evolves with our joint service partners, we are developing additional support options to meet USNORTHCOM, USTRANSCOM, and Department of Homeland Security requirements.”
Additionally, more than 4,100 Texas National Guard personnel are on duty at the border supporting ongoing Operation Lone Star efforts along the border.
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Some of the troops deployed to the southern border were responding to calls or actively working to support California wildfires, but have been released from those duties and are now being reassigned, the senior official added.
Fox News Digital’s Liz Friden, Stephen Sorace, Jennifer Griffin and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
