Military forces began arriving in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California, the following Thursday evening President Donald Trump The decision to declare a national emergency on the southern border.
Additional support for 1,500 soldiers on active duty It consists of 1,000 US Army personnel and 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California who will receive their assignments along the border upon arrival.
“This represents a 60% increase in active-duty ground troops since President Trump was sworn in Monday,” acting Defense Secretary Robert Solis said in a statement late Wednesday.
The Pentagon sends 1,500 additional troops to the southern border: US official
A group of more than 100 migrants trying to enter the United States illegally are seen rushing through a border wall on March 21, 2024. In the process, the migrants push back the Texas National Guard before being stopped by the border wall. (James Braeden for the New York Post/Mega)
There are already 2,500 US service members stationed in Southern border.
The troops were ordered there in May 2023 during the Biden administration under Title 10 authorities approved by former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and are scheduled to be there through the end of fiscal year 2025, according to a spokesman for U.S. Northern Command.
The National Guard is also increasing its support and coordination of emerging requirements with USNORTHCOM and US Transportation Command for additional personnel, military air shelves, barrier construction and other capabilities to meet Presidential and Secretary of Defense directives, according to a statement from the National Guard Bureau of Public Affairs.
Active duty military personnel began arriving at 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 General Stephen S. Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, in conjunction with our joint service partners, are developing additional support options to meet USNORTHCOM, USTRANSCOM, and the Department of Homeland Security Force requirements as this critical mission evolves. ”
Additionally, more than 4,100 Texas National Guard personnel remain on duty at the border supporting the ongoing Operation Lone Star efforts.
Click here to get the Fox News app
A senior official added that some of the troops deployed to the southern border had been in contact or actively working in support of the California wildfires, though they had been released from that mission and are now being reassigned.
Fox News Digital's Liz Frieden, Stephen Sorace, Jennifer Griffin and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
