President Donald Trump is making good on his promises to tackle illegal immigration and secure the southern border, with the Pentagon announcing Wednesday that 1,500 active-duty troops are being deployed as part of his sweeping new border security measures. This marks an early and decisive step in Trump’s plan to ramp up the use of military resources at the border, reinforcing his commitment to what he has called a “No. 1 priority” for the American people.
Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses detailed the mission, explaining that troops will assist Border Patrol agents by flying helicopters, constructing barriers, and providing logistical support. Military aircraft will also be used for deportation flights to expedite the removal of more than 5,000 detained migrants. “This is just the beginning,” Salesses said, indicating that the Pentagon is prepared to send up to 2,000 additional Marines if needed, with plans for further collaboration with federal and state agencies already in motion.
The deployment is a dramatic escalation of Trump’s border strategy, outlined in executive orders signed just days after his inauguration. These orders directed the Department of Defense to make homeland security a core mission and called for sealing the borders to combat “unlawful mass migration.” As White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt put it, “The American people have been waiting for such a time as this—for our Department of Defense to actually implement homeland security seriously.”
The troops will join the 2,500 National Guard and Reserve forces already stationed along the border, a sharp departure from the Biden administration’s more restrained use of active-duty personnel. This deployment also marks the first time since the 1990s that such a significant number of active-duty troops have been sent to the U.S.-Mexico border, highlighting the administration’s sense of urgency.
🚨BREAKING: President Trump’s 1500 troops have officially arrived at the Southern border to assist in combatting Biden and Kamala’s border crisis.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 23, 2025
Trump’s bold move has predictably sparked debate, with critics arguing that the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the military from performing law enforcement duties on U.S. soil. However, the president appears to be eyeing a potential workaround by invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, which would allow troops to take on civilian law enforcement roles. The White House has directed both the incoming defense secretary and the homeland security chief to report back within 90 days on whether invoking the act is necessary. The last time the Insurrection Act was used was in 1992 during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, a precedent that underscores the gravity of the decision.
The deployment comes as the border crisis continues to worsen. Hurricane-like surges of illegal crossings have overwhelmed the 20,000 Border Patrol agents tasked with securing the 2,000-mile southern border, forcing them to focus not only on drug smugglers and human traffickers but also on migrants actively seeking apprehension for asylum claims. Trump’s approach is aimed at addressing this multi-pronged crisis, deploying military personnel to alleviate logistical burdens on Border Patrol agents while sending a clear message to would-be migrants: unlawful entry will not be tolerated.
“This is something President Trump campaigned on,” said Leavitt. “The president has already delivered.” She emphasized that the mission is designed not just to enforce the law but to streamline the processes that have bogged down federal agencies for years. Troops will play a crucial role in transporting agents, erecting barriers, and providing medical care, pre-packaged meals, and temporary housing for both agents and detained migrants.
The president’s executive orders also hint at a broader vision for border security, including plans to house migrants on military bases if necessary—a controversial practice that was used by both the Trump and Biden administrations in the past. While no such request has been made yet, the Pentagon has demonstrated its readiness to adapt, as evidenced by its past use of bases like Fort Bliss, Texas, to house unaccompanied migrant children.
Critics of Trump’s actions will likely argue that militarizing the border is excessive, but his supporters see it as a long-overdue step toward reclaiming control of America’s sovereignty. The deployment also aligns with his broader foreign policy vision of prioritizing American security and reducing the strain on federal resources.
