IRIA News

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The U.S. Department of Defense announced that it has begun deploying 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to crack down on illegal immigration following President Donald Trump’s executive orders. The deployment marks the initial phase of a broader plan that aims to tackle “unlawful mass migration.”

Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses confirmed the deployment and stated that troops will perform various support roles, including flying helicopters to assist Border Patrol agents and aiding in the construction of physical barriers along the border. Additionally, the Pentagon will provide military aircraft to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for deportation flights involving more than 5,000 detained migrants.

“This is just the beginning,” Salesses said in a statement. “In short order, the department will develop and execute additional missions in cooperation with DHS, federal agencies, and state partners to address the full range of threats outlined by the President at our nation’s borders.”

The deployment includes 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California, with the remainder comprising Army personnel. A few hundred troops began moving to the border earlier Wednesday, according to a senior military official. These active-duty forces will join approximately 2,500 National Guard and Reserve forces already stationed along the border.

Expanding Role of the US Military

The current deployment does not involve active-duty troops in law enforcement roles, which would require significant legal changes under the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal law that limits the use of the military for civilian law enforcement. However, President Trump has directed his administration to explore invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807.

If invoked, this law would permit military personnel to perform civilian law enforcement duties on U.S. soil. The last time the Insurrection Act was used was in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict.

“This is something President Trump campaigned on,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “The American people have been waiting for such a time as this – for our Department of Defense to implement homeland security seriously. This is a No. 1 priority for the American people.”

Additional support

Beyond the 1,500 troops assigned to the border mission, the Pentagon has allocated separate resources for deportation flights. Four Air Force aircraft based in San Diego and El Paso will handle these operations, supported by crews and maintenance personnel. Defense officials have also stated that the department is prepared to provide additional forces if requested, including up to 2,000 Marines.

The deployment is part of a long-touted effort by the Trump administration to increase military presence along the nearly 2,000-mile southern border. Military personnel have intermittently supported border operations since the 1990s, helping address migration, drug trafficking, and transnational crime. Both Trump and former President Joe Biden have previously deployed active-duty troops to assist in these missions.

Controversial step

President Trump’s actions have sparked debate, with critics arguing that the militarization of border security could have long-term implications for civil-military relations. Trump has maintained that the measures are necessary to safeguard the country from illegal immigration and crime.

During his inaugural address on Monday, Trump declared, “I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens to the places in which they came.”

The administration has also proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” a symbolic move reflecting its commitment to asserting U.S. sovereignty. The Coast Guard, under Trump’s orders, has increased its deployment of cutter ships, aircraft, and personnel to the region.

US military policy

The deployment underscores the Trump administration’s prioritization of immigration as a national security issue. While the President’s executive orders are in line with his campaign promises, they have reignited debates about the role of the military in domestic affairs, the legal ramifications of invoking the Insurrection Act, and the effectiveness of militarized border security in addressing migration challenges.

As the situation unfolds, the Pentagon and DHS are expected to collaborate closely to refine the scope of the mission. Defense officials emphasized that while law enforcement duties are not currently assigned to troops, the mission’s nature could evolve based on directives from the White House.

“This is a critical step to securing our borders and protecting our citizens,” Salesses stated, reinforcing the administration’s stance on the issue.

The deployment represents an early and highly visible component of Trump’s broader strategy to strengthen immigration enforcement, a hallmark of his presidency. For now, the eyes of the nation remain on the southern border as these measures take effect.

Controversial Pentagon Chief pending

President Trump has named Robert Salesses as acting defense secretary as his controversial pick for the Pentagon’s top job, Pete Hegseth, awaits Senate confirmation. Salesses, deputy director of the Pentagon’s Washington Headquarters Service, will serve as acting defense secretary alongside three other career Defense Department civilians who will temporarily lead the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

A retired Marine and Gulf War veteran who earned a Bronze Star, Salesses has been overseeing the Washington Headquarters Service, which manages essential support services for the capital region, including facilities management and legal counsel for military branches and Pentagon leadership.

Hegseth, whose nomination has drawn scrutiny, could see progress in the Senate Armed Services Committee as early as Monday. However, due to the backlog of nominees requiring Senate approval, his confirmation by the full Senate may be delayed until later in the week.