TACOMA, Wash. — This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com.
Active duty military troops began arriving in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego this week, in what defense officials said is the first batch of the new forces being deployed to secure the southern border. Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) officers are among those heading south.
The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that about 1,500 troops were being sent to the border this week, as the department scrambles to put in motion President Donald Trump’s executive order demanding an immediate crackdown on immigration.
JBLM officers will head south
U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) announced in a statement Friday the U.S. Army’s 66th Military Police Company out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Pierce County will be sent to the border as part of the military’s agency mission.
It is unclear exactly how many JBLM officers will take part, but USNORTHCOM says the number of personnel deployed will fluctuate as units rotate personnel and as additional forces are tasked to deploy. Specific units will be announced as soon as more information becomes available, the release reads. The Associated Press (AP) reported the additional personnel would include active duty, National Guard and Reserves, and come from land, air and sea forces. Other defense and military officials this week estimated that the additional number deployed could be in the thousands.
USNORTHCOM added the military forces being sent will support enhanced detection and monitoring efforts and repair and emplace physical barriers.
More on the military personnel going to the border
The troops announced Wednesday include about 1,000 Army soldiers from a variety of units and 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in California.
Officials said Thursday that they expect the bulk of them to be in El Paso — including Fort Bliss — or in San Diego by Friday, where they will get their mission assignments and prepare to spread out along the border. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details on troop movements.
There were already about 2,500 Guard and Reserve forces deployed to the border, and the new 1,500 would add to that total. But officials noted that given the length of the nearly 2,000-mile border with Mexico, it will take additional forces to help put large rolls of concertina wire barriers in place and provide needed transportation, intelligence and other support to the Border Patrol.
As of Thursday, there were still no requests for the use of military bases to house migrants or for troops to be used for law enforcement duties.
Contributing: The Associated Press; James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio; Steve Coogan, MyNorthwest