The U.S. will send 1,500 additional active-duty troops to the Mexico border, the White House announced Wednesday. The deployment follows President Donald Trump’s executive order to make homeland security a core defense mission. The reinforcements include 500 Marines, Army helicopter crews, and intelligence analysts. They will join the 2,200 active-duty troops and National Guard units already stationed there.
Trump, who declared illegal immigration a national emergency on his first day in office, aims to secure “complete operational control” of the southern border. Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said the military will assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with deportation flights for over 5,000 migrants detained in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. DHS will oversee in-flight law enforcement, while the State Department manages diplomatic clearances.
Officials said discussions are ongoing about deploying up to 10,000 troops, with final numbers depending on military readiness and DHS needs. Despite their presence, the additional troops are not expected to assume law enforcement roles.
Trump criticized former President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration but acknowledged Biden’s stricter policies and Mexico’s enforcement efforts, which led to a sharp drop in illegal crossings. The Coast Guard also announced plans to boost security near Florida and Texas to deter mass migrations from Haiti and Cuba.
Trump has proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” as part of his intensified border agenda. Within 90 days, defense and DHS leaders will recommend whether further actions, including invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, are necessary to address border challenges.
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