Defense Secretary James Mattis visited the U.S.-Mexico border Wednesday, where more than 5,000 troops are deployed to bolster protection ahead of an expected migrant caravan from Central America.
Mattis visited soldiers for about an hour at Camp Donna outside McAllen, Texas, NBC News reported.
More than 5,200 troops were initially deployed to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Texas, Arizona and California. There are now roughly 1,300 troops in California, 1,500 in Arizona and 2,800 in Texas, according to the Defense Department, the military news outlet reported.
The deployment of active-duty troops is the largest single movement of forces since Mattis took office, Stars and Stripes reported.