Defense Sec. Mattis Approves Deployment of National Guard Troops to the Border

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Sec. Mattis Approves Deployment National Guard
Credits: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

Defense Secretary James Mattis approved the deployment of National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The move comes after President Donald Trump requested the Department of Defense (DoD) to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secure the southern border. The President said the illegal activity in the southern border surged and reached a point of crisis. He had no choice but to act.

On Friday night, Sec. Mattis signed a memo stating that the National Guard will deploy up to 4,000 troops to the southern border. The troops will be under the command of their respective governs while supporting the DHS perform its “southern border security mission.”

The troops will not interact with immigrant or perform law enforcement activity. They will only use weapons in “circumstances that might require self-defense. Their mission will last until September 30, according to the memo.

National Guard started sending troops on Friday

In a tweet, National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Joseph Lengyel said up to 500 troops started moving to the southwest border on Friday night. They are bringing equipment, helicopters, and vehicles with them.