Several hundred Fort Hood soldiers will be heading towards the Mexico border this week.

The Department of Defense made an announcement on Monday that they will be sending 5,200 active duty troops to the border. KWTX's Alex Cano reports that the troops are being sent to add more security to the border as a migrant caravan approaches northern Mexico en route from Central America.

Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy said about 800 soldiers were headed to the United States-Mexico border Monday. O'Shaughnessy said more would be arriving at the border by the end of the week, joining more than 2,000 National Guard troops who are already there.

The armed troops are being sent south to beefen up border security. The announcement came shortly before the midterm elections, ahead of which President Donald Trump has used the caravan to highlight concerns about border security and United States immigration policies.

 

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