Thu Jan 23 05:17:24 IST 2025: **1,500 Active-Duty Troops Deployed to US Southern Border Amidst “National Emergency” Declaration**

WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States military has begun deploying 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border with Mexico, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s campaign promise and his recently declared “national emergency” at the border. The deployment, confirmed by the White House on Wednesday, includes 500 Marines. While the full details of the executive order remain unreleased, officials state the troops will not be conducting law enforcement duties.

This action follows President Trump’s executive order declaring a national emergency at the border, citing an “invasion” and claiming America’s sovereignty is under attack. The order authorizes the deployment of armed forces to support Homeland Security efforts in gaining operational control of the border, along with the construction of additional physical barriers and increased unmanned aerial surveillance.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt lauded the deployment as a fulfillment of a key campaign pledge. Approximately 2,500 National Guard members and reserve troops are already stationed at the border, supplementing the more than 45,000 employees of US Customs and Border Protection, including 19,104 border patrol agents.

The increased military presence has drawn criticism from immigration advocates who fear it may deter legitimate asylum seekers and lead to the militarization of interactions with civilians. President Trump, however, maintains that a military response is necessary due to high rates of irregular entry. He has frequently linked immigration to increased crime, a claim disputed by numerous studies showing lower crime rates among undocumented individuals compared to US-born citizens.

The deployment coincides with the passage of the Laken Riley Act, named after a nursing student murdered in February 2024 by an undocumented Venezuelan man. The bill mandates the detention of any undocumented individual arrested or charged with certain crimes, and awaits President Trump’s signature. Human rights groups express concern that the Act could violate defendants’ due process rights.

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