U.S. President Donald Trump is deploying an additional 1500 troops to the Mexico border, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Wednesday, as part of ongoing efforts to curb immigration.
Currently, around 2,500 National Guard and Reserve forces are stationed at the border and now more additional 1500 troops. These new active-duty troops will join them, as no active-duty personnel are currently deployed in the region. Their primary roles will include supporting border patrol agents with logistics, transportation, and barrier construction—similar tasks performed during prior deployments under both Trump and former President Joe Biden.
Through the executive order, Trump has also directed the incoming Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to evaluate within 90 days whether to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act. This law, last used in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict, would permit the deployment of military forces for civilian law enforcement duties.
The decision to send additional troops, widely expected, reflects Trump’s early commitment in office to reinforce the military presence at the border. It follows an executive order signed earlier this week instructing the Secretary of Defense to draft a plan to “seal the borders” and combat “unlawful mass migration.”
In his inaugural address on Monday, Trump declared, “I will announce a national emergency at our southern border. Illegal entry will be stopped immediately, and we will begin the process of deporting millions of criminal aliens to their home countries.”
Since the 1990s, military personnel have been consistently deployed to the southern border to address issues such as illegal migration, drug trafficking, and transnational crime.
The latest deployment aligns with Trump’s broader immigration policy, which emphasizes stricter border security measures and increased enforcement to deter illegal crossings. Critics argue that the use of active-duty military personnel for border enforcement raises legal and ethical concerns, particularly regarding the militarization of immigration issues.
Democrats and immigrant rights advocates have condemned the move, labeling it a political stunt designed to rally Trump’s base. “Deploying troops to the border is not a solution to our immigration challenges—it’s a distraction from the need for comprehensive immigration reform,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Supporters, however, have praised the decision, calling it a necessary step to protect national security and uphold the rule of law. “President Trump is delivering on his promise to secure our borders,” said Republican Senator Tom Cotton. “This deployment ensures we have the resources needed to stop illegal activity and protect American citizens.”
The Department of Homeland Security and Pentagon officials have not disclosed the full cost of the operation but acknowledged that military deployments to the border in recent years have incurred significant expenses. The troops will remain in non-combat roles, supporting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel.
Trump’s executive order also signals his administration’s intention to explore further measures to combat unauthorized immigration. This includes plans to accelerate the construction of border walls, increase surveillance technology, and expand detention facilities for undocumented migrants.
As Trump’s presidency progresses, his hardline immigration stance remains one of the administration’s most polarizing issues. While the deployment of troops demonstrates his commitment to fulfilling campaign promises, it also intensifies the ongoing national debate over the balance between security and human rights at the U.S.-Mexico border.
