Just two days into his new term, President Donald Trump has quickly implemented his border security promises. After swiftly signing executive orders to curb illegal immigration, the administration is now enforcing security measures at the southern border.
U.S. officials confirmed Wednesday the Pentagon is moving forward with plans to send up to 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border. Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses is expected to sign off on the deployment orders later today. However, specifics regarding which troops will be deployed and their exact mission remain unclear.
The number of troops could change based on evolving needs, and it is yet to be determined whether they will engage in law enforcement duties—a role that would mark a significant shift for the military. The decision to send troops follows President Trump’s firm campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration and fortify the southern border.
Officials who spoke to Fox59 requested anonymity because the announcement is still pending. Active-duty troops are set to deploy alongside the approximately 2,500 U.S. National Guard and Reserve forces currently stationed at the border, where no active-duty soldiers are currently assigned.
These additional forces will assist border patrol agents by providing logistical support and transportation and helping with the construction of barriers. Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order directed the Pentagon to deploy sufficient troops to secure “complete operational control of the southern border of the United States.”
“Within 90 days, the heads of the Defense Department and Department of Homeland Security will need to recommend whether additional actions, including invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, might be necessary,” the order stated. While troops are currently barred by law from performing law enforcement duties at the border, this could change under Trump’s directive.
He has ordered the incoming secretary of defense and the incoming homeland security chief to determine within 90 days whether the Insurrection Act of 1807 should be invoked to allow military personnel to engage in civilian law enforcement roles on U.S. soil.
The act is a federal law that empowers the President to deploy U.S. military and federalized National Guard troops within the United States in particular circumstances, such as to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, and rebellion. It is intended to be used when state authorities are unable to maintain public order or enforce the law, or when the rights of citizens are threatened.
It has been invoked several times throughout history, during events such as the Los Angeles riots in 1992 and in response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, to restore order and aid in disaster response efforts.
Trump has already declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border as part of his effort to enhance border security and reform immigration policies. Among the key measures announced, Trump ordered the immediate resumption of border wall construction, aiming to complete unfinished sections.
The administration plans to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their U.S. immigration cases are processed. Another significant policy shift includes an executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents.
The Department of Defense has also been directed to deploy military forces to the border to assist with physical barriers and bolster security efforts. The administration intends to classify international drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, which would allow for stricter enforcement measures.
But he did not send them to do their JOB! The reason we HAVE military forces is to protect our nation from invaders, not to be babysitters and clerics for the invaders!