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The Pentagon is sending about 3,000 more active-duty troops to the US-Mexico border

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The Pentagon is sending about 3,000 more active-duty troops to the US-Mexico border
News

News

The Pentagon is sending about 3,000 more active-duty troops to the US-Mexico border

2025-03-02 04:45 Last Updated At:04:50

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is sending about 3,000 more active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as President Donald Trump seeks to clamp down on illegal immigration and fulfill a central promise of his campaign, U.S. officials said Saturday.

His defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has ordered elements of a Stryker brigade combat team and a general support aviation battalion for the mission, the Pentagon announced. The forces will arrive along the nearly 2,000-mile border in the coming weeks.

The Defense Department's statement did not specify the size of the deployment, but it was put at about 3,000 by the officials, who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Strykers are medium-armored wheeled personnel carriers.

Already, about 9,200 U.S. troops in total are at the southern border, including 4,200 deployed under federal orders and about 5,000 National Guard troops under the control of governors.

The new troops will “reinforce and expand current border security operations to seal the border and protect the territorial integrity of the United States,” the Pentagon said.

Trump is determined to expand the military’s role in his effort to shut down the border and send detained migrants back to their home countries.

Military personnel have been sent to the border almost continuously since the 1990s to help address migration, drug trafficking and transnational crime.

The Washington Post first reported on the new deployment.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at the Pentagon in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at the Pentagon in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Chargers sign Super Bowl champion guard Mekhi Becton

2025-03-15 14:27 Last Updated At:14:30

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers beefed up their offensive line on Friday by signing guard Mekhi Becton.

The 6-7, 363-pound Becton started 19 games at right guard last season for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, helping pave the way for running back Saquon Barkley to rush for 2,504 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Becton was the No. 11 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the New York Jets out of Louisville where he earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2019.

He has started 49 of 50 career games, including the postseason, in the NFL.

The Chargers also agreed to terms with linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips on Friday.

The 28-year-old played for Houston last season on a one-year deal.

Phillips has appeared in 72 career games with the Texans, Baltimore, New York Jets and Buffalo.

He was undrafted out of Illinois, where he played two seasons for the Illini and started 21 of 23 games.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE -Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (77) stands on the field during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr), File)

FILE -Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (77) stands on the field during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr), File)

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