The US Department of Defense announced on Saturday that approximately 3,000 additional soldiers will be deployed to the southern border with Mexico. This deployment includes 2,400 soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) and 500 soldiers from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, according to a statement from US Northern Command (NORTHCOM). The aim is to enhance security efforts and address the influx of migrants and drugs at the border.

The military personnel will undertake tasks such as detection and monitoring, administrative and transportation support, warehousing, logistics, vehicle maintenance, and engineering support. Stryker units, which are lightly armored vehicles equipped with machine guns or grenade launchers, will not participate in interdiction or deportation operations. The aviation unit troops will assist in the transportation of personnel, equipment, and supplies, as well as provide aerial medical evacuation capabilities.

The US-Mexico border sees thousands of immigrants and refugees fleeing poverty, violence, and political instability, mainly from Latin America. Since the 1990s, the US has deployed military forces to the border to combat migration, crime, and drug trafficking. Former President Donald Trump made stopping illegal immigration a key focus of his presidency and implemented several measures, including immigration raids, arrests, and deportations. In January, Trump signed an executive order classifying drug cartels as a national security threat.

Last month, it was announced that the administration planned to hold 30,000 migrants at a facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which was previously known for abuses against detainees. Many of those held there have already been deported.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/us-to-deploy-3-000-more-troops-to-southern-border/a-71796438?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf