By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-22 21:41:24 | Updated at 2025-01-23 01:26:17
3 hours ago
The US military is preparing to send roughly 1,500 additional active-duty troops to the border with Mexico, US officials said on Wednesday, just two days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on immigration.
The additional troops would be joining the roughly 2,200 active-duty and thousands of National Guard troops already on the border.
During his first term, Republican Trump ordered 5,200 troops to help secure the border with Mexico. Democratic former US president Joe Biden deployed active-duty troops to the border as well.
One official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said this was likely the first wave of troops being sent to the border and the number could increase.
The official added that US military aircraft could also be used to deport migrants, but that had not yet been approved.
Trump in his first day in office declared illegal immigration a national emergency, tasking the US military with aiding border security, issuing a broad ban on asylum, and taking steps to restrict citizenship for children born on American soil.
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