Pentagon to deploy 500 locally based I MEF Marines, sailors to US-Mexico border

[Tony]

A military official confirmed to NBC 7 on Thursday that hundreds of locally based service members would be heading to the U.S.-Mexico border to participate in security operations.

"As directed by U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North, I Marine Expeditionary Force will deploy approximately 500 Marines and sailors as an immediate augmentation of military active-duty forces to the southern border to carry out directed missions called for by the president to secure the border and protect and defend the territorial integrity of the United States," 1st Lt. Troy J. Garza said in the statement sent out shortly after 10 a.m.