Official policy announcements from the White House or Department of Homeland Security

Trump Deploys 1,500 Troops to Border, Starts Mass Deportations with Military Planes

Jan 24, 2025, 06:49 PM

President Donald Trump's administration has begun deploying active-duty military personnel to the U.S.-Mexico border and has initiated mass deportations of undocumented migrants, marking a significant escalation in immigration enforcement. On January 23, 2025, the first wave of approximately 1,500 troops, including Marines from Camp Pendleton's 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and the 7th Combat Engineer Battalion, arrived at the southern border using MV-22 Ospreys and armored vehicles. The troops are constructing barriers, installing concertina wire, and assisting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in reinforcing border security. This deployment follows President Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the border, citing an "invasion" of illegal immigrants. The Pentagon announced plans to send additional troops, including units from the Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division. U.S. Northern Command confirmed the active-duty units being deployed. The administration has also commenced mass deportation operations using military aircraft, an unprecedented move in U.S. history. On January 24, military C-17 transport planes carried deported migrants, who were handcuffed, back to Guatemala and El Salvador. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the president is sending a clear message that those who enter the United States illegally will face serious consequences. Tom Homan, appointed as the "border czar," announced plans to increase deportations to 5,000 migrants daily using military aircraft. Mexico has accepted multiple deportation flights, including a record four flights in one day, and has mobilized 30,000 National Guard members. Deported individuals include suspected criminals, and authorities emphasize that these measures aim to enhance national security and uphold the rule of law at the nation's southern border.