Trump sent about 5,800 active-duty troops toward the southwest border

Date: 2018-10-31
Entry type: federal-force-deployment
Current status: Documented domestic support deployment; this entry does not classify it as combat.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-03

Entities and roles

2018 active-duty southwest-border deploymentactive-duty border support mission
Donald J. Trumppresident announcing the deployment

Claims and evidence

factdocumented
Trump said approximately 5,800 military personnel were moving to the southwest border in response to a migrant caravan.
- The White House: Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One DepartureExchange on military personnel moving to the border