300 troops shifted from Texas and Arizona to California for border duty
Soldiers from the 65th MP (Military Police) Company Airborne, 503rd MP Battalion Airborne, perform Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Nov. 25, 2018. U.S Northern Command is providing military support to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to secure the southern border of the United States. (Sgt. Kyle Larsen/Army)
WASHINGTON — The military says about 300 troops who had been deployed in south Texas and Arizona as part of a border security mission have been moved to California for similar work.
In a statement Monday, U.S. Northern Command says the 300 include military police and engineering and logistics troops. They were moved to California over the past several days.
The White House may face legal challenges to the expansion of authorities for troops at the southern border.
By Tara Copp and Aaron Mehta
The total number of active-duty troops now involved in the border mission, which began in late October, has dropped to about 5,600, according to Northern Command. Last Wednesday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the number was 5,764, and officials had previously said it was between 5,800 and 5,900.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Martin Velasco ties concertina wire while participating in border support near the San Ysidro Port of Entry in California on Nov. 25, 2018. (Staff Sgt. Rubin J. Tan/U.S. Marine Corps)
Stand-in forces are being funded by gutting necessary combat capabilities, such as infantry, aviation, armor and artillery, this retired Marine writes.