Trump Deploys 1,500 Troops, Including Marines, to Southern Border and Deputizes Local Law Enforcement

Jan 24, 2025, 06:42 PM

President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of approximately 1,500 active-duty U.S. troops to the southern border as part of an executive action to crack down on illegal immigration. The initial wave, which includes Marines from Camp Pendleton and soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, 10th Mountain Division, and a Stryker brigade from the 4th Infantry Division, began arriving via V-22 Osprey aircraft in border areas such as El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. The troops are assisting Customs and Border Protection in efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, with tasks including setting up tents and deploying concertina wire at locations like the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station in San Diego. U.S. Northern Command confirmed the deployment, stating that troop numbers could rise to 10,000. Additionally, the Trump administration is taking steps to deputize state and local law enforcement to assist with immigration enforcement and detention.