The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that 5,000 troops will deploy to the border in anticipation of the “caravan” of asylum seekers heading through Mexico on its way to the U.S. border. Just last week, it was announced that about 800 troops were heading to the border.
“The U.S. and federal law-enforcement officials said troops are likely to be deployed to ports of entry, at least in initial phases of the U.S. military mission, which the Pentagon has named Operation Faithful Patriot,” The Wall Street Journal reported. “Under the latest plans, about 1,800 troops will go to Texas, 1,700 to Arizona and 1,500 to California.”
The story noted that the troop number at the border will eclipse that of troop commitment in Syria and Iraq and is about half the number of troops service in Afghanistan. Still, the story also said a Pentagon official called the troop figures “premature.”
“Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said Friday that the agency wasn’t considering plans to have troops enforce immigration law,” the story noted. “Mr. McAleenan said his agency is updating longstanding plans to deal with a mass migration situation, including possible temporary holding and processing facilities.”
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