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By Gabe Whisnant
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Active-duty military troops are set to begin arriving in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California, on Thursday evening, marking the initial phase of deploying new forces to secure the southern border, according to defense officials.
The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that approximately 1,500 troops would be sent to the border this week.
Officials indicated on Thursday that they anticipate most of these troops will arrive in El Paso, including Fort Bliss, or San Diego by Friday. Upon arrival, they will receive their mission assignments and prepare to disperse along the border. The officials provided these details to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
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The deployment announced on Wednesday comprises around 1,000 Army soldiers from various units and 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California.
Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon via email Thursday evening for comment.
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Why It Matters
President Donald Trump moved quickly after returning to the White House to tighten the U.S.-Mexico border, a key campaign promise and a GOP priority amid concerns about the high number of migrants who have crossed into the U.S. in recent years.
There were about 2.1 million encounters at the southern border in fiscal year 2024, compared with nearly 2.5 million in FY 2025, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Among Trump's first-week actions on the border, he signed executive orders aimed at reimplementing his Remain in Mexico policies and ending birthright citizenship. These policies are already facing legal scrutiny.
What To Know
Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said the troops will fly helicopters to assist Border Patrol agents and help construct barriers. The Pentagon also will provide military aircraft for Department of Homeland Security deportation flights for more than 5,000 detained migrants.
There are already 2,500 U.S. National Guard and Army Reserve forces at the border, but no active-duty forces were present before this week, the AP reported. Both Trump and former President Joe Biden sent military personnel to the border during their administrations.
As of Thursday, there have been no requests to utilize military bases for housing migrants or to deploy troops for law enforcement duties, according to the AP. Federal law prohibits troops from law enforcement activities, but Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 over the coming months to open up that possibility.
What People Are Saying
Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said in a statement the number of troops and their mission may soon change: "This is just the beginning."
Donald Trump, during his inaugural address: "I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country. All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country."
Navy veteran Jared Ryan Sears wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Trump sent 1500 troops to the border! That will stop the migrants! Except for the fact that Biden already had 2,200 active duty troops and thousands of National Guard at the border. Trump began mass roundups! Look at those ICE agents on TV arresting a couple dozen people! Biden deported over 271,000 migrants last year. More than any year of Trump's presidency. Millions of Americans don't care about the facts, only the spectacle. That's why they voted for someone who views leading the nation the same as being on a reality TV show."
What Happens Next
Trump is expected to continue prioritizing actions affecting border security, a key issue for his voter base. Some of these efforts are facing legal challenges. Meanwhile, other enforcement actions, such as deportations of migrants, are underway.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Update: 1/23/25, 6:48 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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