The United States is ordering around 1,500 active-duty service members to the southern border, federal officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The move comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, Jan. 20, to bulk up American military presence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
An unclear mission, so far
It’s still unclear when the government will deploy these troops, or which units will be going. However, they are reportedly expected to help provide intelligence on threats and migrant flows.
The incoming troops will reportedly join around 2,500 U.S. National Guard and reserve forces already at the southern border.
The Associated Press reports that there are currently no active-duty forces working along the border.
Sources who spoke with CNN said they expect the government to send even more active-duty troops to the border in the coming weeks and months.
A history of problems
Border agents have long been stretched thin at the U.S.-Mexico border and have been forced to work with broken equipment.
A report last year revealed many border cameras were in disrepair. This has left border agents with no surveillance in some areas as they waited on delayed repairs and didn’t have agents to cover the areas.
The Insurrection Act
For now, the troops would not be allowed to perform law enforcement duties, like arrests and searches. This is because federal law bars the practice.
However, the government could authorize service members to perform law enforcement duties if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act.
Trump signed an order on Monday, Jan. 20, that stated he will decide within 90 days whether to invoke the act at the U.S.-Mexico border.
