REPORT: Trump to Expand Military Border Deployment from 800 to 5,000

Reports on Monday indicate that President Donald Trump will order an expansion of the U.S. military deployment to the U.S. southwest border. The order is expected to increase the number of troops being deployed from 800 to 5,000.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday morning that the U.S. military plans to deploy 5,000 troops to the southwest border region in response to the caravan of “would-be asylum seekers.” The plans reportedly call for 1,800 troops to deploy to Texas, 1,700 to Arizona, and 1,500 to California.

A Pentagon spokesman did not appear to deny the reported deployment expansion. Rather, the spokesman said the discussion of the actual figures is “premature.”

Under “Operation Faithful Patriot,” troops are expected to be assigned to ports of entry in the early phase. They are expected to support Border Patrol agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in dealing with the anticipated migrant caravan arrivals.

The troops are expected to come from about ten U.S. Army installations. The composition of the forces is expected to include military police, engineers, and medical personnel.

CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said his agency is updating “longstanding plans to deal with a mass migration situation.” Those plans include temporary holding and processing facilities, he said.

McAleenan said he plans to ensure the CBP can “secure the ports (of entry) and prevent a large group from coming at one time.”