On January 31, 2025, the Pentagon announced plans to deploy at least 1,000 additional active-duty troops to bolster immigration enforcement efforts under the Trump administration.

This follows the earlier deployment of approximately 1,600 soldiers, with around 1,100 Army soldiers and 500 Marines already stationed in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California.

The troops' primary responsibilities include erecting concertina wire barriers and providing logistical support to the Border Patrol.

In total, there may be further troop deployments to the southern border, with discussions considering a potential total of up to 10,000 troops.

President Trump has indicated that his administration intends to send the 'worst criminal aliens' to Guantanamo Bay, preparing for the housing of up to 30,000 migrants.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that Guantanamo could accommodate thousands of individuals, including potentially dangerous criminals or gang members.

The Defense Department is preparing detention facilities at Guantanamo to function as 'supermax prisons' for high-risk detainees, including certain migrants.

The U.S. military is also assisting the Department of Homeland Security with deportation flights for over 5,000 detained migrants, with some expected to be sent to Guantanamo Bay.

Troops at Guantanamo Bay will assist in preparing facilities for incoming detained migrants and may perform various support roles.

Before these deployments, about 2,500 Guard and Reserve forces were already stationed at the border, underscoring the extensive nature of U.S.-Mexico border security efforts.

Discussions regarding these troop deployments are ongoing, with the potential for numbers to increase based on further developments.

Historically, Guantanamo has been used to detain migrants intercepted at sea, particularly from Haiti and Cuba.