DOD sends over 1,000 additional troops to help bolster southern border efforts

The Department of Defense (DOD) has announced the deployment of an additional 1,140 U.S. troops to the southern border of the United States. This move is aimed at supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in their efforts to manage the influx of undocumented immigrants. The DOD is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to address critical gaps in border security, in line with President Trump’s executive order, titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” Currently, there are 4,300 active-duty troops stationed at the southern border, and the arrival of the additional forces will bring the total to 5,440 active-duty service members. These troops will assist in joint task force operations, including command and control of sustainable units, coordination of logistical support, field feeding, and the management of logistical movements.

The additional troops being deployed will come from various Army units across the United States. These include the 101st Division Sustainment Brigade from Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Alpha Company, 189th Division Sustainment Support Battalion (DSSB) from Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Bravo Company, 68th DSSB from Fort Carson, Colorado; Charlie Company, 129th DSSB from Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion from Fort Bragg, North Carolina; the 70th Movement Control Team from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; and the 564th Quartermaster Company from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. These units will provide a range of support functions to enhance the effectiveness of border operations.

In a related development, the Trump administration has designated eight gangs and cartels, including Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and the Sinaloa Cartel, as foreign terrorist organizations. This designation is intended to expand the U.S. government’s ability to combat criminal organizations operating within its territory. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that there is a “sufficient factual basis” under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to issue these designations against the gangs and cartels. This move is part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement against illegal immigration and organized crime.

Additionally, the Trump administration has initiated flights to transfer undocumented immigrants to the Guantánamo Bay detention center in Cuba. It is estimated that around 30,000 “criminal illegal aliens” could be held at the facility, which previously housed hundreds of prisoners. However, only 15 prisoners were left at the base before the administration began sending migrants there. This controversial decision has sparked debate over the use of a military detention center for immigration enforcement.

In a separate but related action, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has made an aggressive move to ramp up the arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants. While the specifics of her plan have not been fully detailed in this report, her actions align with the broader push by the Trump administration to enforce stricter immigration policies.

The combination of deploying additional troops to the southern border, designating criminal organizations as foreign terrorist entities, and using facilities like Guantánamo Bay to detain undocumented immigrants reflects a multifaceted approach by the Trump administration to address illegal immigration. These measures are part of a larger strategy to bolster border security and enforce federal immigration laws. The deployment of military resources to the border, along with the reclassification of certain criminal organizations, underscores the administration’s commitment to curbing illegal immigration and combating drug cartels and gangs. However, these actions have also sparked criticism and raise questions about the balance between national security and human rights.