Statement from Acting Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses on the Department of Defense’s Actions in Response to President Trump’s Executive Order on Securing Our Border

On Monday, to protect the safety of U.S. citizens, President Trump declared that a national emergency existed at the U.S. southern border. The President has directed me to take all appropriate actions to support the Secretary of Homeland Security’s activities to obtain full operational control of the southern border of the United States.

Yesterday, I convened a meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, senior policy officials from the Department of Defense (DoD), the commanders of the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and the United States Command. Transportation (USTRANSCOM), as well as the head of the National Guard Bureau (NGB), ordering them to leave immediately in support of President Trump’s executive orders on protecting the territorial integrity and citizens of the United States.

Under my leadership, DoD created a task force to oversee expedited implementation of the executive orders. This includes employing U.S. military forces to carry out directed missions requested by the President. The USNORTHCOM Commander is the operational leader of this effort, supported by USTRANSCOM, the military services, and the NGB working alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

I have approved three immediate actions that will begin today:

First, DoD will begin bolstering its forces on the southwest border with approximately 1,500 additional ground personnel, as well as helicopters with associated crews and intelligence analysts to support increased detection and surveillance efforts. This represents a 60 percent increase in active duty ground forces since President Trump was sworn in on Monday.

Second, the Department will provide a military airlift to support DHS removal flights of more than five thousand illegal aliens from the San Diego, California, and El Paso, Texas, sectors detained by Customs and Protection borders. DHS will provide law enforcement on board, and the Department of State will obtain required diplomatic clearances and provide notification to the host country.

Third, the Ministry will begin contributing to the construction of temporary and permanent physical barriers to enhance security and reduce illegal border crossings and illicit trafficking.

This is just the beginning. As soon as possible, the Department will develop and execute additional missions in cooperation with DHS, federal agencies, and partner states to address the full range of threats outlined by the President at our nation’s borders.

President Trump has directed the Department of Defense to act to secure our nation’s borders and has made clear he expects immediate results. This is exactly what our military is doing under his leadership.