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EO 14165 § 4 directs DOD, DOJ, and DHS to deploy personnel to ensure complete operational control of the southern border and enforce immigration laws

  1. Original Date Announced

    January 20, 2025

    Section 4 of Executive Order (EO) 14165 "Securing Our Borders" directs the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to take all appropriate and lawful action to deploy sufficient personnel along the U.S. southern border to ensure "complete operational control." It also states that "[t]he Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all appropriate action to supplement available personnel to secure the southern border and enforce the immigration laws of the United States through the use of sections 1103(a)(2) and (4)-(6) of the INA (8 U.S.C. § § 1103(a)(2) and (4)-(6))."

    Trump 2.0 [ID #1379]

    2025.01.20 EO 14165 - Securing Our Borders

  2. Effective Date

    January 20, 2025

  3. Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)

    • January 22, 2025

      2025.01.22 - DHS Memo "DOJ Immigration Officer Authorization"

      Acting Secretary for Homeland Security issued a memo authorizing DOJ law enforcement officials and other employees to investigate, locate, and apprehend noncitizens in violation of Title 8, Chapter 12 or related regulations and to enforce requirements of such statutes and regulations.

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    • January 23, 2025

      2025.01.23 - USNORTHCOM bolsters security at southern border

      The Pentagon through U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) deployed approximately 1,500 active-duty troops from U.S. Army and Marine Corps to the southern border to augment approximately 2,500 service members already deployed and supporting CBP there. Military forces will support detection and monitoring efforts as well as repair and replace physical barriers.

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    • January 24, 2025

      2025.01.24 Active duty forces to bolster security at U.S. southern border

      USNORTHCOM again reports that approximately 1,500 active-duty troops from U.S. Army and Marine Corps have been deployed to the southern border to support detection, monitoring, and and reinforcement of physical barriers.

      View Document
    • January 29, 2025

      2025.01.29 USCG conducts security operations on Rio Grande River - X

      The U.S. Coast Guard has begun "security operations" along the Rio Grande River. USCG states that it "will detect and deter aliens and transnational smugglers from using maritime routes to illegally enter the United States."

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    • February 6, 2025

      2025.02.06 Coast Guard conducts alien expulsion flight operations between California and Texas - USCG News

      The U.S. Coast Guard conducted "alien expulsion flights" on February 6, 2025, between CA and TX as part of a DHS-led operation enforcing immigration laws under recent executive orders. The Coast Guard aims to detect, deter, and interdict unauthorized migrants and other threats before they reach the U.S. border, with transported individuals relocated to designated locations for removal.

      View Document
    • February 7, 2025

      2025.02.07 Pentagon sends more troops to U.S.-Mexico border, bringing total to 3,600

      PBS News reports that the Pentagon will deploy around 1,500 more soldiers to the southern border, bringing the total up to around 3,600.

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    • March 1, 2025

      2025.03.01 Reported: Pentagon orders up to 3,000 troops to U.S.-Mexico border - Washington Post

      The Washington Post reports that the Pentagon ordered about 3,000 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, including soldiers from a motorized brigade equipped with Stryker combat vehicles, on February 28, 2025. About 2,400 soldiers will deploy with the Stryker brigade combat team, and an additional 550 will deploy with the aviation unit.

      View Document

Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Final/Actual
Trump Administration Action: Presidential Orders
Subject Matter: Border
Agencies Affected: DHS CBP DOD AG

Associated or Derivative Policies

Commentary

  • 2024.12.3 Just Security - "Deployment of the U.S. Military for Immigration Enforcement: A Primer"

    This Just Security article outlines law surrounding deployment of the U.S. military for immigration enforcement. It was published in anticipation of President Trump declaring a national emergency and deploying military forces to the border.

    Go to article

  • 2025.01.22 Pentagon is sending 1,500 active duty troops to help secure the US-Mexico border

    Reporting on the deployment of 1,500 active-duty military personnel to the southern border, Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said the troops will fly helicopters to assist CBP agents, provide military airlift for DHS deportation flights for more than 5,000 detained migrants, and assist in construction of border barriers.

    Go to article

  • 2025.02.01_NYT: White House P.R. Campaign Aims to Show Trump Making Good on Immigration Promise

    White House and DOD release videos and photos depicting U.S. Marines reinforcing the border wall and loading shackled immigrants onto a C-17 military cargo plane.

    Go to article

  • "Border Focus Pulls DOJ Resources from Terrorism, White Collar," Bloomberg

    Complying with EO 14165 § 4 has led the DOJ, FBI, and other federal law enforcement agencies to redirect resources from combatting terrorism and white collar crime to immigration enforcement.

    Go to article

Documents

Trump-Era Policy Documents

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