DOD sends over 1,000 additional troops to help bolster southern border efforts

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US, Mexico agree to coordinated border patrols

Fox News contributor Brett Velicovich on the CIA flying drones over Mexico to target cartels and fentanyl labs and coordinated border patrols with Mexico.

The Department of Defense (DOD) is sending 1,140 additional U.S. troops to the southern border of the United States to help bolster the efforts of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to control the influx of illegal immigrants.

“The DOD continues to work with the Department of Homeland Security to fill critical capabilities gaps at the southern border in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order, ‘Protecting the American People Against Invasion,'” U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) said.

There are currently 4,300 U.S. active-duty troops at the southern border, and an additional 1,140 troops will bring the total to 5,440 active-duty service members.

USNORTHCOM said the additional troops will provide support to joint task force operations, including command and control of sustainable units and coordination of logistical support, field feeding support sites and control of logistical movement.

TRUMP STATE DEPARTMENT DECLARES TREN DE ARAGUA, MS-13, MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

United States Marine Corps troops patrol the U.S.-Mexico border area as seen from San Diego Feb. 7, 2025.  (Carlos Moreno/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The Army units being deployed will come from the 101st Division Sustainment Brigade, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Alpha Company, 189th Division Sustainment Support Battalion (DSSB), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Bravo Company, 68th DSSB, Fort Carson, Colorado; Charlie Company, 129th DSSB, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; 70th Movement Control Team, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; and 564th Quartermaster Company, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

The Trump administration has designated eight gangs and cartels, including Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and MS-13, foreign terrorist organizations in a move that expands the U.S. government’s ability to crack down on criminal organizations operating in its territory.

NOEM MAKES AGGRESSIVE NEW MOVE TO RAMP UP ARRESTS, DEPORTATIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

The Pentagon is seen from a flight taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va.  (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time of the announcement this month there was a “sufficient factual basis” under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to issue the designations against the gangs and cartels.

The Trump administration also began sending flights of illegal immigrants to the Guantánamo Bay detention site in Cuba earlier this month. 

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Around 30,000 “criminal illegal aliens” could be held at the base that once housed hundreds of prisoners, only 15 of whom were left before Trump began sending migrants there.

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.

Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.