Marines among 1,500 troops set for US-Mexico border logistics work as Title 42 expires

WASHINGTON — Active-duty Marines, soldiers and some airmen will begin arriving at the southern border to perform logistical tasks Wednesday, one day before the expiration of Title 42.

“The specific timeline for deployments is still being determined, however, the initial active-duty military personnel will be on the ground on or about May 10, 2023,” US Northern Command said in a statement.

“The majority of active duty personnel will come from the US Army and US Marines, although a small number of US Air Force personnel will also deploy.”

The troops will come from three battalion-size units — the 2nd Marine Regiment and Combat Logistics Battalion 2 of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as well as the 93rd Military Police Battalion of the 89th Military Police Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas, according to NORTHCOM.

While it is rare for active-duty military to be deployed for domestic missions, the troops will not have direct contact with migrants — instead conducting administrative work to free up Department of Homeland Security personnel to handle what is expected to be a dramatic jump in migrants attempting to enter the US.

“This military support increases the availability of Customs and Border Patrol law enforcement personnel to conduct law enforcement-specific duties,” NORTHCOM said in its statement.

Meanwhile, the highly trained ground forces and military police will assist with “data entry, warehousing support and additional detection and monitoring support efforts,” NORTHCOM said in a statement.

“Military personnel will not be permitted to support migrant processing and escort duties or other activities that involve direct participation in civilian law enforcement activities, be responsible for property seized from migrants or require direct contact with migrants,” it added.

In total, 1,500 troops from the three units will deploy for roughly 90 days, the Pentagon has said.

“All DoD personnel will be in direct support of the DHS, the lead federal agency for security of the U.S.
southwest border,” NORTHCOM said.

The tapped troops are preparing to deploy as hundreds of migrants have been seen on drone footage streaming into Texas ahead of Title 42’s looming expiration.

Come Thursday, DHS officials expect the number of daily migrants arriving in the US to reach as many as 14,000 — roughly double what House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has said was seen per day in the final three months of last year.

Title 42, which allowed prompt deportation of migrants without first hearing their asylum claims, prevented some 2.8 million border crossers from entering the US since its implementation in March 2020.