Pentagon approves sending U.S. troops to Mexico border

The Biden administration on Tuesday approved a request from the Department of Homeland Security to send 1,500 active-duty troops to the Mexican border as Title 42 expires next week. Title 42 is the pandemic-era public health order that allows immigration authorities to expel some immigrants before they can request asylum. Immigration authorities expect the end of Title 42 to bring more migrants to the border.

What will the troops do while they’re there? Service members will only be armed for self-defense, anonymous White House officials told Politico. The troops are meant to free up border patrol officials to process migrant claims and law enforcement work. Former President Donald Trump employed a similar strategy to help border patrol officials process large caravans. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had already approved sending about 2,500 National Guard forces until Oct 1. But he stipulated that DHS, the White House, and Congress had to find a long-term solution to staffing problems. 

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins' report in Compassion on the Biden administration trying to ease the strain on the asylum system.