Trump deploys 1,500 troops to counter "border invasion"
The President of the USA, Donald Trump, signed an order to send 1,500 soldiers to the border with Mexico to counter an "invasion".
White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed that Trump instructed the Department of Defense to prioritise homeland security. The soldiers are to support border services with logistics, transportation, and the construction of barriers.
The new order involves using the military to counteract the "invasion" and physically prevent migrants from crossing the border.
According to CNN, the U.S. Transportation Command has been directed to get ready to utilize American military resources, such as military aircraft, for migrant repatriation flights.
The Pentagon will provide aircraft equipment for the deportation of over 5,000 illegal immigrants from California and Texas. These actions form part of a broader strategy that also includes building a border wall.
State of emergency at the border
Two days before the decision to send troops, Trump signed a series of orders, including the establishment of a state of emergency at the border. The U.S. President described illegal immigration as an "invasion", which justifies using the military.
American soldiers have been stationed at the border since 2018. According to CNN, about 2,200 soldiers from the Northern Command support border services in various auxiliary tasks.
Last year, the Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, sent National Guard troops to the border. Their number now exceeds 4,000. The soldiers perform auxiliary functions such as monitoring the border and providing logistical assistance.
Source: PAP, CNN
