WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration said it is working with governors to “immediately” deploy the National Guard to combat illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Wednesday that DHS and the Pentagon will be working closely with governors in the affected states.
She said deployment will be done as expeditiously as possible and that Guard troops could begin heading to the border as soon as Wednesday night.
Trump announced his plan to send the military to the border during a meeting with Baltic leaders Tuesday.
He’s been publicly frustrated by Congress’ refusal to fund building a wall along the length of the U.S. border as well as an increase in illegal border crossings.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office said he will add more National Guard members to the roughly 100 already deployed to the Texas portion of the border with Mexico.
In a statement, Abbott said he welcomed the Trump administration’s announcement that it will “immediately” deploy guardsmen to the southwest border. The Republican governor said the announcement “reinforces Texas’ longstanding commitment to secure our southern border.”
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry ordered 1,000 guardsmen to the border in July 2014 during a large spike in crossings by unaccompanied migrant children. State leaders announced months later that they would wind down most of that deployment.
Texas also has state troopers stationed at its border to assist the Border Patrol and local law enforcement.
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