Active-duty personnel from the United States military have started arriving at sections of the US-Mexico border, specifically in Texas and California. These troop deployments are part of the response to the ongoing migrant crisis at the Southern boundary of the United States.
For several months, an influx of migrants, primarily from Central America, has provoked humanitarian concerns and stretched the border security resources. The decision to deploy active-duty troops was made with the intention of bolstering border controls and assisting local law enforcement.
However, the move has seen criticism from a range of observers for politicizing the military and underplaying the capacity of conventional border security measures, including the U.S. Border Patrol. Other critics have questioned the cost-effectiveness and strategic planning behind the deployment.
While the number of troops and their exact assignments have yet to be publicly defined, the engagements are said to be in support of operations already being conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. The duration of the deployment also remains unclear, pending further information from military authorities or the Department of Homeland Security.
Karl Dorsch, a Defense Department spokesman, declined to provide specific details but emphasized the commitment of the Department to the operation, sanctions permitting.
The arrival of the active-duty troops at the border marks an escalation in the government’s reaction to the migrant crisis, a development that’s likely to draw both significant support and opposition, due to the turbulent and emotionally charged immigration debate within the US.
Last modified: January 25, 2025
