President Donald Trump plans to send about 1,500 active duty troops to the southern border. The directive stems from an executive order signed earlier this week.
"President Trump is sending a very strong message to people around this world – if you are thinking about breaking the laws of the United States of America, you will be returned home. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
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President Trump's efforts to crack down on illegal immigration have been a major theme of his first few days in office.
He has signed executive orders that declare a national emergency at the southern border, restrict birthright citizenship and temporarily suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
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The Trump administration has also made it easier for immigration enforcement officials to carry out deportation orders.
Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a directive that restricted enforcement actions at "sensitive areas" such as schools and churches
“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens—including murders and rapists—who have illegally come into our country," Huffman said in a statement. "Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest."
