Pentagon prolongs troops’ presence on Mexico border until September’s end.
The Pentagon Extends Deployment of Troops to Southern Border
The Department of Defense has confirmed that the deployment of 400 troops to the United States’ southern border with Mexico has been extended until the end of September. This decision comes after 1,500 troops were initially assigned to the border in May for a 90-day period. While Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin withdrew 1,100 troops in August, the remaining 400 will continue their deployment.
“On August 24, 2023, the Secretary of Defense approved an extension of up to 400 personnel providing support to Customs and Border Protection on the Southwest border through September 30, 2023,” said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Devin Robinson.
This marks the second extension for these 400 troops. Originally deployed in anticipation of a surge in migration in Texas and Arizona, the expected increase in border crossings did not materialize. In fact, the numbers dwindled to 3,000 per day instead of the projected 10,000 before the expiration. However, the crossings have since risen to 5,000 per day, according to Customs and Border Protection.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security expressed appreciation for the extension, stating, “The support personnel are critical so that CBP agents and officers can get out in the field to securely, safely, and humanely manage the southwest border.”
The remaining troops are currently providing assistance to CBP agents in ground-based detection and monitoring, data entry, and warehouse support. It’s important to note that they are not directly involved in front-line border security operations.
Border Crisis Impacting States and Cities
The influx of migrants has led to a border and migration crisis in both border states and sanctuary cities, such as New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. New York, in particular, has experienced a significant increase in migrants, with over 100,000 individuals arriving since spring 2022.
In response to the situation, several states have sent additional resources to the southern border, including National Guard units. In June, 14 Republican governors pledged their assistance, resulting in the deployment of at least 1,305 national guardsmen and 231 law enforcement personnel to support Texas’s Operation Lone Star.
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