Approximately 550 active-duty U.S. troops have arrived at the southern border as part of the plan approved by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to deploy 1,500 troops in preparation for an anticipated surge in immigration when Title 42 expires on Thursday.
Title 42 is a rule established during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed U.S. immigration officials to expel immigrants accused of illegally crossing the border.
According to a fact sheet released by the State Department on Wednesday, the troops will begin in El Paso, with the specifics for the remaining 1,000 to be announced at a later time. The deployment will consist of Army, Marine Corps and a limited number of Air Force personnel.
