CRIME, POLICE + COURTS

Troops heading to southern border ahead of expiration of Title 42

May 2, 2023, 9:30 PM

Migrants who had crossed the Rio Grande river into the U.S. are under custody of National Guard members as they await the arrival of U.S. Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, Friday, May 20, 2022. The Eagle Pass area has become increasingly a popular crossing corridor for migrants, especially those from outside Mexico and Central America, under Title 42 authority, which expels migrants without a chance to seek asylum on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The Pentagon is sending 1,500 troops to the southern border ahead of the expiration of Title 42. A large in increase in illegal immigrants crossing into the country is expected once Title 42 expires.. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

BY MARK JONES

Digital Content Producer

SALT LAKE CITY — On Tuesday, the Pentagon approved a request by the Department of Homeland Security to send 1,500 troops to the southern border. When Title 42 expires, it is expected that a large number of illegal immigrants will come across the border.

The presence of extra troops is meant as a way to assist in securing the border.

Mark Satter, a national security reporter for rollcall, joined Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson on Tuesday to discuss what this all means.

Matheson begins the conversation by asking, “What does that actually mean to send 1,500 to the border? And what is it that they are likely to be doing down there?”

“The (Biden) administration is stressing that these troops will not be doing any kind of law enforcement work,” Satter said. “They are going to be doing logistics and administrative stuff in order to free up customs and border protection officers to go out and do the actual law enforcement tasks that they need to do.”

The expiration of Title 42 and national security

“What does this do in terms of national security at the border?” Matheson asked.

“It’s not going to have a huge impact,” Satter said. “These troops are really there to help DHS.”

Satter says there are already 2,500 National Guardsmen already at the border. They have been doing this kind of work for years across multiple administrations, according to Satter.

“What is it that you have your eye on as we move towards that (the expiration of Title 42)?” Matheson asked.

Satter says the DHS is predicting that border agents could see as many as 10,000 crossings a day once Title 42 expires.

Satter also says that while it will put a strain on DHS and the border communities, it’s not expected to have big impact on the Pentagon’s operations.

“But anything on the horizon or any rumblings that you’re hearing on Capitol Hill in terms of longer-term solution in terms of how this plays out?” Matheson asked.

“I can tell you from what I’m hearing, there’s not much in the works right now on immigration,” Satter said. “It seems the deadlock is continuing on the Hill and there are no clear legislative proposals inside.”

Satter says the 1,500 troops will be at the border for 90 days and then will be rotated out. Additionally, he says the National Guardsmen will remain there as a continued presence there.

Listen to the entire segment.

Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson can be heard weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app.

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