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National Guard soldiers and airmen currently deployed to the nation’s southern border are expected to remain there through Sept. 30, according to Pentagon officials.
The approximately 2,500 Guardsmen currently serving on the border has not changed in recent weeks, even as many thousands more have deployed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in their home states and territories.
In all, 5,200 service members remain at the border to assist in detecting undocumented migrants and otherwise assisting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Guard missions include surveillance, maintenance, transportation and logistical support.
Late last month, Pentagon officials said there were no plans to pull units off the border for coronavirus response. Officials also announced the deployment of more than 500 additional service members, primarily from the active components, to bolster the ongoing mission.
The additional troops are being dispatched at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, which asked the White House for more personnel as the number of people testing positive for coronavirus continues to rise.
Apprehensions at the border are currently at their lowest levels in years. Amid the ongoing pandemic, President Trump ordered the closure of both northern and southern border crossings to nonessential travel and has also moved to swiftly return migrants caught trying to enter the nation illegally.
The Guard’s role in border operations is a small but notable part of its ongoing worldwide operations. On any given day, approximately 30,000 Guardsmen are deployed overseas conducting federal missions and another 10,000 conduct federal and state missions within the United States.
In recent weeks, the number of Guardsmen responding to the COVID-19 pandemic has also grown to more than 30,000. In all, more than 15% of the nationwide force of 450,000 Guardsmen are currently on orders for operational ongoing missions.
