Special Poll
On Monday evening, President Trump executed an executive order directing the U.S. military to formulate a strategy for deploying troops to the southern border. This directive empowers U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), one of the nation’s eleven combat command centers, to address various threats such as illegal mass migration, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other criminal activities that breach the southern frontier.
The order underscores the ongoing threats to U.S. sovereignty and mandates the military’s ongoing role in defending the nation’s territorial integrity. The document highlights the historical involvement of the U.S. Armed Forces in safeguarding the border from unauthorized entry and other transnational crimes that disrupt domestic peace and security.
Following the president’s order, the Pentagon confirmed its commitment to promptly implementing the directives under Trump’s leadership. The president has requested NORTHCOM to deliver a revised operational plan within 10 days and expects a detailed planning proposal from the Secretary of Defense within 30 days to sustain border operations continuously.
The specifics regarding the number of troops or the mix of forces—whether active-duty, reserve, or National Guard—remain undefined in the order, although Trump had previously advocated for the deployment of active-duty soldiers during his campaign.