The Pentagon is set to deploy at least 1,000 additional active-duty troops as part of US President Donald Trump’s intensified efforts to curb illegal immigration, US officials said on Friday.
This includes roughly 500 soldiers, mainly a headquarters unit from the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, who will be sent to the US-Mexico border. Additionally, about 500 Marines will be stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to assist with the detention of migrants.
According to officials cited by AP, discussions regarding troop numbers are ongoing, and further deployments may be considered. These actions follow Trump’s executive orders, signed shortly after his inauguration on January 20, directing a military-led reinforcement of border security.
Last week, the first contingent of 1,600 active-duty personnel was deployed to the southern border. The troops stationed at the border are expected to assist with setting up concertina wire barriers, transportation, intelligence gathering, and logistical support for Border Patrol agents. Meanwhile, those assigned to Guantanamo Bay will work on preparing the facility for an anticipated influx of detainees and performing other support duties.
Speaking on “Fox & Friends” on Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the US could detain “thousands of individuals in tents, secured in places at Guantanamo Bay.” He also noted the potential detention of violent criminals and gang members, highlighting the defense department’s plans to prepare high-security detention facilities at Guantanamo for such individuals.
Officials have signaled that additional troop deployments could be announced in the coming days, with estimates suggesting the total deployment could reach 10,000. Prior to these moves, approximately 2,500 National Guard and Reserve forces were stationed along the nearly 2,000-mile southern border.The US military is also assisting the department of homeland security in deportation flights for over 5,000 detained migrants, with some expected to be held at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay. On Wednesday, President Trump said that his administration planned to send the “worst criminal aliens” to Guantanamo and ordered the Pentagon to prepare facilities for up to 30,000 detainees.
This is not the first time migrants have been detained at Guantanamo Bay. The US has previously housed migrants intercepted at sea, including individuals from Haiti and Cuba, at a facility known as the Migrant Operations Center. However, the current plans represent an unprecedented expansion of the detention policy.
