The new Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, visited the U.S-Mexico border for the first time, accompanied by Border Czar Tom Homan. President Trump deployed over 1,500 active-duty troops to assist with securing the border. The Defense and Homeland Security secretaries were directed to deliver a joint report on conditions and recommendations, including the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act. Despite record-low illegal crossings, the massing of combat forces at the border continues. Active-duty troops have been involved in various support roles at the border over the years. Democratic critics, including Sen. Elissa Slotkin, expressed concerns about the lack of training for active-duty troops to perform law enforcement duties. The presence of troops along the border comes during a tense period in the U.S-Mexico relationship, with President Trump threatening tariffs on Mexican goods. An agreement was reached to hold off on tariffs, with Mexico agreeing to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to its northern border. Hegseth did not rule out the possibility of using the U.S. military in Mexico, stating that all options are on the table. Despite this, their current mission is to defend against illegal immigration.
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