As part of President Donald Trump’s executive actions to tighten immigration controls, the U.S. military has initiated the deployment of 1,500 active-duty personnel to the nation’s southern border with Mexico.
The White House announced the troop deployment on Wednesday, although detailed specifics about the directive remain undisclosed. Among the troops being sent are approximately 500 Marines, who are not expected to engage in law enforcement activities while stationed at the border.
The deployment was anticipated given Trump’s campaign focus on immigration. Shortly after his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order proclaiming a “national emergency” at the border, echoing some of the intense rhetoric from his campaign.
“America’s sovereignty is under siege,” stated the executive order. “This invasion has resulted in widespread disorder and suffering within our nation over the past four years.”
The order outlined measures for deploying military forces to assist the Secretary of Homeland Security in achieving full operational control over the southern border. It also called for the construction of additional physical barriers and the implementation of unmanned aerial surveillance.
Trump’s communications team celebrated the troop deployment as a fulfillment of his campaign promises. “This is an issue President Trump ran on,” said Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary. “The American populace has been anticipating this moment—when our Department of Defense would genuinely take homeland security seriously.”
Approximately 2,500 National Guard members and reserve troops are already stationed at the border. Additionally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection employs over 45,000 personnel, with 19,104 serving as border patrol agents as of fiscal year 2023.
Immigration advocates express concerns that an increased military presence could deter legitimate asylum claims or lead to the use of military tactics against civilians. However, Trump argues that a military response is necessary due to high rates of irregular entry into the U.S. He often links immigration to increased crime, despite statistics showing that undocumented individuals commit crimes at lower rates than U.S.-born citizens.
Trump has used specific cases, such as the murder of Laken Riley, to support his immigration proposals. The House of Representatives recently passed the Laken Riley Act, which requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain undocumented individuals arrested or charged with certain crimes. The bill now awaits Trump’s signature.