On Thursday evening, military troops arrived in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California That of President Donald Trump decides to declare a national emergency at the southern border.
The extra support of 1,500 troops on active duty consists of 1,000 U.S. Army personnel and 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton, California, who will receive their assignments along the border upon arrival.
“This represents a 60% increase in the number of ground troops on active duty since President Trump was sworn in on Monday,” acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said in a statement late Wednesday.
PENTAGON SENDS 1,500 ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER: US OFFICIAL
On March 21, 2024, a group of more than 100 migrants trying to enter the US illegally are seen charging into a border wall. In doing so, the migrants took down the Texas National Guardsmen before being stopped by the border wall. (James Breeden for New York Post/Mega)
There are already 2,500 American soldiers stationed at the airport southern border.
The troops were ordered there in May 2023 during the Biden administration under Title 10 authorities approved by former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and will remain there through the end of fiscal year 2025, according to a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson.
The National Guard is also increasing support and coordinating emerging needs with USNORTHCOM and US Transportation Command for additional personnel, military airlift, barrier construction and other capabilities to meet directives from the President and Secretary of Defense, according to a National Guard statement Bureau of Public Affairs.
Active-duty military personnel arrived 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 more than 1,600 Guardsmen supporting the federal border security mission,” said Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau. “Working with our Joint Service partners, we are developing additional support options to meet USNORTHCOM, USTRANSCOM and the Department of Homeland Security force requirements as this critical mission evolves.”
In addition, more than 4,100 Texas National Guard personnel remain on duty at the border in support of the ongoing Operation Lone Star efforts.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Some of the troops deployed to the southern border were on call or actively working in support of the wildfires in California, although they were released from that mission and are now being reassigned, the senior official added.
Liz Friden, Stephen Sorace, Jennifer Griffin and Greg Wehner of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
