The Department of Defense will expand the mission of active-duty troops at the U.S. southern border to include mobile surveillance and detection activities, at the request of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to a Monday news release.
“DOD is transitioning its support at the southwestern border from hardening ports of entry to mobile surveillance and detection, as well as concertina wire emplacement between ports of entry. DOD will continue to provide aviation support,” the release states.
The expanded support will extend the work of military personnel on the border, previously scheduled to be completed by the end of January, to September 30. The move comes after a December 27 request for more support at the border by DHS.
According to NPR, which first reported on the request for more troops, the extension “will very likely mean the deployment of more forces, including combat engineers and aviation units.”