US to send 3,000 more troops to southern border: Report

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - More than 3,000 additional troops will be deployed to the U.S.'s southern border with Mexico, defense officials told CNN on Thursday.

The additional forces will be joining the 2,300 troops already stationed there and will fulfill a request made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which had been approved by acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan earlier in the month.

The total amount of extra troops being sent is approximately 3,500, a defense official confirmed to the news agency.

The request made by the DHS extended the border mission until September, which would amount to a nearly year-long deployment of troops at the border with Mexico.

The troops had been sent to harden key points of entry along the border in response to large migrant caravans that had been marching their way up from Central America to reach the U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump also confirmed that additional troops were being sent to the border.

"More troops being sent to the Southern Border to stop the attempted Invasion of Illegals, through large Caravans, into our Country. We have stopped the previous Caravans, and we will stop these also. With a Wall it would be soooo much easier and less expensive. Being Built!" Trump tweeted.