By The FirstAt least 1,500 active-duty troops will be deployed to the southern border in order to provide operational support to U.S. immigration authorities, according to a number of U.S. officials. The move comes in anticipation of a significant increase in the number of migrants illegally crossing the border following the expiration of Title 42 on May 11th.
Title 42, the public-health law that allows the U.S. to deny asylum and migration claims for public health reasons, is set to expire in just over a week. As a result, officials are expecting tens of thousands of migrants to attempt to cross the southern border illegally. The decision to deploy troops underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for additional support on the ground.
The 90-day deployment of service members, primarily from Army units, will not involve any law enforcement responsibilities. Instead, the troops will be armed for self-defense and tasked with monitoring and administrative duties. This support will allow Border Patrol agents to focus on processing migrant claims in a more efficient and timely manner.
The newly deployed soldiers would join 2,500 National Guard troops that are already on the border assisting law enforcement.
