FORT HOOD, Texas — The Department of Homeland Security requested assistance from the Department of Defense for more than a dozen bases across the country to support the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including Fort Hood.
Officials estimate more than 7,000 troops from California, Arizona and Texas will be supporting DHS.
The Department of Defense said the troops will enhance CBP's ability to impede or deny illegal crossings and maintain situational awareness.
Fort Hood will serve as a base support installation and as a logistics hub, according to the DoD.
Most Fort Hood active duty forces responding to the DHS request will be engineer battalions to erect temporary vehicle barriers and fencing.
MAJ Mark Lazane, a spokesperson with U.S. Northern Command, said the specific number of Fort Hood troops being sent is unclear at this time but it includes five different brigades.
There is no specific date when the troops will arrive or where exactly they will be stationed, but Lazane said they will be in Texas.