Increased US Military Presence on Mexican Border
Thousands of additional US troops have been ordered to support the country’s southern border, according to officials with knowledge of the matter. CNN reports that these troops will assist in maintaining the operations of US border patrols and provide support in the areas of flow and intelligence in command and control centers.
While the exact number of troops sent to the border was only described as “thousands”, it is expected that more active duty US troops will be deployed to the southern border in the coming weeks and months.
Recent data from the Ministry of Homeland Security shows that an average of 1100-1300 irregular immigrants are crossing the southern border illegally each day.
It is important to note that under US law, known as “Posse comitatus”, active duty US soldiers do not have the authority to carry out law enforcement actions such as detention, arrest, or operations against irregular immigrants without special permission.
Currently, around 2,200 active soldiers from the US Northern Command are providing additional logistical support on the field at the El Paso border in Texas. These soldiers are assisting US Customs and Border Protection with tasks such as data entry, detection, tracking, and vehicle maintenance.
In addition, a National Guard unit of approximately 4,500 members, affiliated with the Texas State National Guard, is deployed at the border under the operation name “Lone Star Operation” to provide further support.
The deployment of additional troops is part of ongoing efforts to address the situation at the southern border and ensure the security and integrity of US borders. More updates are expected as the situation develops in the coming weeks.
