Military troops started arriving in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California, on Thursday evening in response to President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southern border.
The additional support of 1,500 active-duty troops includes 1,000 U.S. Army personnel and 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California who will receive their assignments along the border upon arrival.
“This marks a 60% increase in active-duty ground forces since President Trump’s inauguration on Monday,” stated Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses on Wednesday.
PENTAGON SENDING ADDITIONAL 1,500 TROOPS TO SOUTHERN BORDER: US OFFICIAL
A group of over 100 migrants attempting to enter the US illegally are seen rushing a border wall on March 21, 2024. In the process, the migrants knocked down Texas National Guardsmen before they were halted by the border wall. (James Breeden for New York Post / Mega)
Currently, there are 2,500 U.S. service members stationed at the southern border.
The troops were deployed in May 2023 during the Biden administration under Title 10 authorities approved by former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and are scheduled to remain until the end of Fiscal Year 2025, according to a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson.
The National Guard is also enhancing its support and coordinating urgent requirements with USNORTHCOM and U.S. Transportation Command for additional personnel, military airlift, barrier construction, and other capabilities to meet presidential and Secretary of Defense directives, as stated by the National Guard Bureau of Public Affairs.
BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN SENDS MESSAGE TO FAR-LEFT OFFICIALS PUSHING BACK AGAINST MASS DEPORTATIONS: ‘GAME ON’
Active-duty military personnel began arriving along 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 currently has over 1,600 Guardsmen supporting the federal border security mission,” said Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau. “In conjunction with our Joint Service partners, we are developing additional support options to meet USNORTHCOM, USTRANSCOM and Department of Homeland Security force requirements as this critical mission evolves.”
Moreover, more than 4,100 Texas National Guard personnel are still on duty at the border supporting ongoing Operation Lone Star efforts.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Some of the troops being deployed to the southern border were originally involved in assisting with the California wildfires, but they have been reassigned after being released from that mission, as per the senior official.
Fox News Digital’s Liz Friden, Stephen Sorace, Jennifer Griffin, and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
