The United States military will provide airlift support for the Department of Homeland Security to help deport more than 5,000 illegal aliens currently being detained in San Diego, California, and El Paso, Texas, the Pentagon said.

In a statement on Wednesday, acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said 1,500 active-duty troops were being deployed to the southern border to support deportation flights and intelligence collection, as well as help construct both temporary and permanent physical barriers.

“This is just the beginning,” Salesses said. “In short order, the Department will develop and execute additional missions in cooperation with DHS, federal agencies, and state partners to address the full range of threats outlined by the president at our nation’s borders.”

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