US sending 1,500 troops to southern border for anticipated illegal immigration surge.

US to Send Troops to Southern Border with Mexico

The United States is sending troops to the southern border with Mexico, as pandemic restrictions are set to lift on May 11, leading to an expected surge of illegal immigrants. The move was announced by the White House on May 2.

The southern border has been struggling with an unprecedented influx of illegal immigrants for the past two years, leaving border control authorities with limited resources.

1,500 Troops to Supplement Border Patrol Resources

Pentagon Press Secretary Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed in a press conference that 1,500 U.S. military personnel will be sent to the border to supplement Border Patrol resources for 90 days. Ryder suggested that this could be extended as the need arises.

• The troops will fill critical capability gaps, such as ground-based detection and monitoring, data entry, and warehouse support until CBP [Customs and Border Protection] can address these needs through contracted support.
• Military personnel will not directly participate in law enforcement activities.

The first wave of troops will be drawn from active-duty personnel, but the Pentagon is also looking into other options, including potentially pulling from reserves.

Freeing Border Patrol Agents to Apprehend Illegal Immigrants

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the move was made in the hopes of freeing Border Patrol agents up to focus on apprehending illegal immigrants crossing the border.

Under President Donald Trump, military servicemembers performed similar functions at the border. When Trump deployed troops to the border in 2018, Democrats blasted the move as a “politicization” of the military.

In comments to reporters, Jean-Pierre said that the deployment was “common practice.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in a statement Tuesday, said the additional forces would help “to reduce irregular migration, ensure safe, orderly, and efficient processing, and promptly remove individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States.”

Currently, 2,500 troops are stationed at the southern border.