The Pentagon said Wednesday it will deploy an initial round of 1,500 troops to the southern border, and will tap its resources to help the Department of Homeland Security with flights to deport illegal immigrants back to their home countries.
The Defense Department will also restart construction on President Trump’s border wall, acting Secretary Robert Salesses said.
He said he ordered his department “to move out immediately” in carrying out the president’s vision.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “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 1,500 troops will augment about 2,500 troops already deployed under previous orders.
Mr. Salesses said they will assist in spotting illegal immigrants.
The military is also planning a major boost to Homeland Security’s deportation capacity. Mr. Salesses said troops will help fly more than 5,000 migrants being detained in San Diego and El Paso.
The military’s role is air support and it is sending two C-17 and two C-130 cargo aircraft for the deportation flights. Homeland Security will guard the detainees on the flights.
The newly deployed troops join about 2,200 active duty military personnel assigned to Joint Task Force North in El Paso, which also provides support to Customs and Border Protection. A contingent of National Guard troops from Texas and other states also are deployed along the border as part of the state-run Operation Lone Star.
“President Trump directed action from the Department of Defense on securing our nation’s borders and made clear he expects immediate results,” Mr. Salesses said. “That is exactly what our military is doing under his leadership.”
Mr. Trump signed an executive order on Monday ordering the military to prioritize the border as a national security mission. The president also declared the border a national emergency, giving the Pentagon more leeway to act.
“The American people have been waiting for such a time as this for our Department of Defense to actually take homeland security seriously. This is a number one priority of the American people,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said.
Critics have questioned the role that the troops will play in law-enforcement actions, saying they are not trained for a border mission.
• Mike Glenn contributed to this report.
Correction: An earlier version of this report spelled Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses’ name incorrectly.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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