National Guard Troops Deploy to Southern U.S. Border

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis last night authorized up to 4,000 National Guard troops to deploy to the U.S. border with Mexico to support the Department of Homeland Security border security mission there.

National Guard troops began deploying after the announcement of the authorization.

In a joint statement, Mattis and DHS Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen said DHS worked closely with border-state governors and identified security vulnerabilities the National Guard could address.

“We appreciate the governors’ support and are dedicated to working with them to secure the national borders,” Mattis and Nielsen said.

DoD and DHS are committed to “using every lever of power to support the men and women of law enforcement defending our nation’s sovereignty and protecting the American people,” they said, adding that they will continue to work with the governors to deploy the necessary resources until the nation’s borders are secure.

President Donald J. Trump authorized the National Guard, with the affected governors’ approval, to enhance its support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern U.S. border. In a presidential memorandum April 4, he said a “drastic surge of illegal activity on the southern border” is threatening national security.

National Guard Troops Deploy Immediately