Separately, Army Col. Rob Manning, a spokesman for the Defense Department, told reporters that the 2,800 troops already completed their mission of “hardening” immigration entry points in Texas.
In addition, Manning said there are also 1,500 troops supporting CBP operations in Arizona and California. The troops already installed 2,714 meters of razor wire obstacles in Arizona and 4, 145 meters in California.
According to him, some of the soldiers will return home before December 15. He said, “The bottom line is that our numbers will be commensurate with the capabilities that … CBP is requesting.”
Last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis clarified that troops’ mission at the southwest border does not include law enforcement. Their mission is “providing planning and engineering support, equipment, transportation support and temporary housing” for CBP personnel and their medical teams.