PENTAGON TO SEND 1,500 ACTIVE-DUTY TROOPS TO US-MEXICO BORDER TO HELP WITH SURGE OF MIGRANTS

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon will deploy 1,500 active-duty troops to the southwest border to help deal with an expected surge in migrants seeking to enter the United States, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday.

The troops will not be involved in law enforcement activities but will fill a request by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for detection and monitoring, data entry, and warehouse support, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. The troops will be sent there for 90 days until the Department of Homeland Security can hire contractors to fill those gaps, Ryder said.

“This deployment to the border is consistent with other forms of military support to DHS over many years,” Ryder said.