--- title: "Active Duty Troops To Mobilize In Rare Deployment To US-Mexico Border" date: "2018-10-28" modified: "2018-10-28" authors: - name: "Adam Linehan" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/adamlinehan.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/active-duty-troops-mexico-border/" categories: - "Around the World" - "Mexico" - "News" - "United States" tags: - "donald trump" - "Northern Command" - "Pentagon" --- # Active Duty Troops To Mobilize In Rare Deployment To US-Mexico Border ![]() The U.S. military has started sending jersey barriers to the Southwest border as the Pentagon prepares to mobilize a sizable contingent of troops — including active duty Army soldiers — to help block a convoy of Central American migrants from entering the United States, the Associated Press [reports](). Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters on Oct. 28 that specifics are still being hammered out but indicated that plans for the deployment could be finalized as soon as soon as Sunday night. On Friday, Mattis approved a request from the Department of Homeland Security to beef up military forces on the U.S.-Mexico border after President Donald Trump declared a slowly approaching wave of roughly 7,000 migrants a “National Emergency” on Twitter. The caravan, which formed in Honduras, is currently about 1,000 miles from the nearest border crossing into the U.S., [according]() to Fox News, traveling on foot at a pace of about 30 miles per day. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1055414972635926528 Numerous media outlets have reported in recent days that more than 800 additional U.S. service members are headed to the border to bolster the 2,100 National Guard forces who deployed there in April to support the Border Patrol. However, a Pentagon official told Task & Purpose on Saturday that troops levels for the upcoming deployment have not yet been set. “We don’t have a specific number,” the official said. “At this point would advise straying from any number.” The Pentagon has [indicated]() that the reinforcements will fall under U.S. Northern Command — “in support of Custom and Border Protection” — and not the National Guard. The troops who have been deployed to the border since April have played a largely behind-the-scenes role, as they are prohibited from interacting with migrants and most are barred from carrying weapons. As AP notes, such missions are rare for active duty troops and it’s unclear why their involvement is necessary, as it seems the logistical and air support they are expected to contribute to the operation could also be provided by National Guard units, which states often tap for assistance with border security. **WATCH NEXT:** ## More - [US troops are stuck on the Mexico border with no end in sight]() - [Mission Accomplished: Troops At US-Mexico Border Should Be Home By Christmas]() - [Thousands More Active-Duty Troops Will Deploy To Southwest Border Through September]() - [President Trump Says Troops Will Guard The US-Mexico Border]() - [NORTHCOM chief sees no military threat at the US-Mexico border]() - [Trump wants more armed US troops at the border. The Pentagon might send cooks and lawyers instead]() - [Here is the full list of active-duty military units deployed to the southern border]() - [The Mission Creep of Sending Troops To The US-Mexico Border]()