US deploys 4,000 National Guard troopers at Mexico border to stem illegal immigration

Washington, April 9: The Pentagon has finally approved to deploy as many as 4,000 troops to the US-Mexico border in a bid to curb illegal immigration. The move comes in response to US President Trump's call for using troops to stem illegal immigration in Mexico border.

 

Notably, the United States Defence Secretary James Mattis signed a memorandum to send up to 4,000 National Guard troops for duty along the border with Mexico. According to the Defence Department memo, the Guard members will not perform law enforcement functions or interact with migrants or other persons detained without the approval of Mattis.

The memo also said arming will be limited to circumstances that might require self-defense but it did not further define that. The Pentagon will pay for the operation through the end of September, however, the memo does not say how much the mission will cost. The initial deployment of 500 will include soldiers and airmen.

In a joint statement, Mattis and homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said that the decision came after the two departments identified security vulnerabilities that could be addressed by the National Guard.

The joint statement said, "Together, the two departments are committed to using every lever of power to support the men and women of law enforcement defending our nation's sovereignty and protecting the American people."We will continue to work with the governors to deploy the necessary resources until our nation's borders are secure," the statement added.

Importantly, Deployments to the US-Mexico border under former presidents George Bush and Barack Obama both occurred under Title 32. Bush sent around 6,000 troops in 2006, and Obama sent 1,200 Guard members in 2010. Title 32 of the United States Code outlines the role of the United States National Guard in the United States Code.