The Pentagon is sending a crisis response force of roughly 160 troops to the southern border ahead of a Supreme Court decision that officials fear could prompt a new migration crisis, Politico reported.
The Trump administration today said it would send the service members to two points on the southwest border — San Ysidro, Calif., and El Paso, Texas — to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection by placing temporary barriers and providing protection for border officers.
The decision comes as the Supreme Court weighs a decision on an administration policy that forces asylum seekers to remain in Mexico as they wait to appear before a judge. The fear is that if the court blocks the restrictions, more commonly known as “Remain in Mexico”, large crowds of migrants could seek entry into the United States.
The troops are from the 687th Engineer Construction Company and the 519th Military Police Battalion, both from Fort Polk, La., according to the DoD. Additionally, the Texas governor has ordered the Texas National Guard to deploy troops from the 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade to the Brownsville area to do “quick reaction force training” in support of CBP.
More than 5,000 active-duty troops and members of the National Guard are already stationed at the southern border to support CBP in securing ports and constructing the border wall.
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