Joe Biden finally decided that maybe the southern border isn’t quite as secure as he thought. So he’s sending 1500 US active duty troops to shore up the border before Title 42 Covid-19 immigration restrictions lift.

But don’t expect them to do any active law enforcement. They will be armed, but mostly carrying out behind-the-scenes work. Plus, they’re going to be there for only 90 days.

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement:

For 90 days, these 1,500 military personnel will fill critical capability gaps, such as ground-based detection and monitoring, data entry, and warehouse support, until CBP can address these needs through contracted support. Military personnel will not directly participate in law enforcement activities. This deployment to the border is consistent with other forms of military support to DHS over many years.

Hold on. By sending troops to the border, isn’t Biden acting like, well, You Know Who?

Yes indeed. In 2018, President Trump sent over 5000 active duty troops to assist with handling the problems at the border. Eventually National Guard members replaced the military. So in case you’re wondering which president was most effective in protecting the border, here are some stats from the US Customs and Border Protection.

Screenshot: Twitter/@masonbo.

But that doesn’t include the 600,000 “got-aways” in 2022 alone.

Why Troops? Isn’t the Border Secure?

The southern border is secure, right? At least that’s what Department of Homeland Security Security Alejandro Mayorkas told Chuck Todd on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. Although Mayorkas’s definition of “secure” is quite the head-scratcher. Kind of like Bill Clinton saying that it depends on what the meaning of the word “is” is:

“What’s the definition of a secure border to you?” Alejandro Mayorkas: “It is maximizing the resources that we have available to us to deliver the most effective results.”

But shortly after the addition of troops was announced, Fox News Peter Doocy asked WH Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre why we would need them? After all, the border is secure, right?

DOOCY: “If the border is secure…then why would we need to send 1,500 active duty U.S. troops down there?” KJP: “Because more work needs to be done, Peter…”

DOOCY: "If the border is secure…then why would we need to send 1,500 active duty U.S. troops down there?"

KJP: "Because more work needs to be done, Peter…" pic.twitter.com/LSvo7eeeBE

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 2, 2023

Ah. It must be all about maximizing those resources.

However, former ICE Director Tom Homan had words, as he usually does.

WATCH: We are awaiting Pentagon briefing as the Biden Administration approves sending 1,500 US troops to Mexico border as Title 42 nears deadline.

Tom Homan, former Acting ICE Director, joins now.#AmericaReports pic.twitter.com/wAwO7tRiVh

— America Reports (@AmericaRpts) May 2, 2023

The Border Isn’t Secure. Period.

US Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz tweeted the following on Monday:

Past 72 Hours… – 2 Agents Assaulted/Prosecution sought – 22,220 Apprehensions – 806 lbs. Methamphetamine – 283 lbs. Marijuana – 62 lbs. Cocaine – 3 Firearms – 5 Maritime Events – 2 Sex Offenders – 2 Tractor Trailer Events – 1 Convicted Murderer – 1 Gang Member

Great work!

But if those numbers don’t convince you that the border is anything but secure, here’s a video from a reporter in El Paso, TX. She posted this on Tuesday morning:

We are less than 10 days away from the potential lift of #Title42 and everyday we are seeing more and more migrants with temporary encampments on the streets south of downtown #ElPaso. This sight wraps around the entire Sacred Heart church and has expanded over the past few days. pic.twitter.com/VR7roM8ojc

— Ariana Parra (@ArianaKFOX_CBS) May 2, 2023

So will the additional 1500 active duty troops make a difference at the border after Title 42 expires? Especially since they’re going to be mainly performing support duties, and not even permanently? Or perhaps this is just window-dressing by an administration that doesn’t mind the influx of people about whom we know very little. And many of whom are involved in drug and human trafficking.

Or maybe it’s because progressive Democrats like outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot griped about migrants being bussed to her city — after she called them “our new neighbors” just eight short months ago.

The administration knows perfectly well that the southern border is a shitshow, and has been getting worse since Joe Biden became president. Now that the May 11 lifting of Title 42 is on the horizon, the WH will publicize their bandaid treatment of the crisis. See? Troops! We’re doing something! 

Featured image: rawpixel/cropped/public domain.