Pentagon retains 400 troops at border as illegal crossings near 180,000 in August.
The Pentagon Maintains Troop Presence at Southern Border
The Pentagon has confirmed that approximately 400 troops will remain stationed at the southern border as a response to the ongoing influx of illegal crossings into the United States.
These troops are part of a larger group of 1,500 personnel who were deployed as foreign nationals surged across the border leading up to the expiration of Title 42, a policy implemented during the Trump administration that allowed Border Protection to turn back illegal immigrants due to COVID concerns.
“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,” Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Devin T. Robinson told NBC.
Despite the continued high number of border crossings, the Pentagon has sent back 1,100 troops who had been stationed at the border since May. In August 2023 alone, approximately 177,000 individuals were arrested for illegally entering the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security expressed gratitude to the Department of Defense for extending the stay of some troops, acknowledging their critical role in allowing Customs and Border Protection agents to effectively manage the border.
Recent data reveals that a record-breaking number of 91,000 illegal immigrants crossed the border in family groups, surpassing the previous record set in May 2019. Additionally, the number of children crossing per day increased from 270 in July to 377 in August.
The HHS Office of Refuge Resettlement (ORR) currently has over 10,000 children in custody, prompting the need for additional bed capacity and services.
“While ORR has worked to build up its licensed bed capacity, additional capacity is urgently needed to manage the increasing numbers of unaccompanied children referrals from DHS. In preparation for the potential need for additional beds and to provide services and care that align with child welfare best practices, HHS opened several Influx Care Facilities (ICFs), which offer the full range of services offered in ORR’s network of care,” the office said in a fact sheet.
Despite claims from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that the Biden administration is effectively addressing the border crisis, illegal border crossings have surged under this administration. Since Biden took office in 2021, an estimated 1.5 million illegal immigrants have evaded capture, compared to 415,000 reported gotaways during the Trump administration from 2018 to 2020. Fiscal year 2022 saw a record high in illegal border crossings.
Spencer Lindquist contributed to this report.
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