Peter Doocy, If the border is secure, then why would we need to send 1,500 active duty U.S. troops down there. White House Press Conference, May 2, 2023
Karine Jean Pierre, Because more work needs to be done, Peter.
The Department of Defense plans to send 1,500 additional active-duty troops to support the security mission along the U.S.-Mexico border for a temporary three-month period ahead of an
expected surge of migrants with the end of Title 42 restrictions on May 11, according to U.S. officials.
They will join 2,500 National Guard members already there on an active-duty status assisting Border Patrol agents with ground-based detection and monitoring.
The new troops will also help with data entry, and warehouse support.
While some might be armed for self-defense purposes, they will have no direct role in interacting with migrants at the border, according to multiple officials.
"They will not be performing law-enforcement functions or interacting with immigrants or migrants," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday.
