Patrol and Reconnaissance wings 10 and 11 are conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions on the southern border, a Navy official confirmed to USNI Information on Monday
The 2 air wings, based mostly out of Whidbey Island, Wash., and Jacksonville, Fla., are conducting P-8 flights, Lt. David Glaser, a Navy spokesman, instructed USNI Information. Proper now, the squadrons concerned are VP-45 and VP-46, however they may seemingly rotate, Glaser mentioned.
The air wings didn’t must be relocated, Glaser mentioned. Navy photographs posted to DVIDS present the crew of VP-45 conducting a P-8 flight mission on Jan. 30.
Glaser referred additional inquiries to U.S. Northern Command. NORTHCOM and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet didn’t instantly reply to inquiries from USNI Information.
The flights come after the presidential government order that directs Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem to develop the Migrant Operations Middle at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, so as to have extra detention house for “high-priority felony aliens unlawfull current in america, in response to the Jan. 28 order.
“This memorandum is issued so as to halt the border invasion, dismantle felony cartels, and restore nationwide sovereignty,” reads the chief order.
Greater than 300 service members arrived at Guantanamo Bay over the weekend to help the operation to carry immigrants missing everlasting authorized standing, in response to a launch from U.S. Southern Command.
“The variety of service members will proceed to fluctuate as further forces are tasked to deploy and might be scaled based mostly on the necessities of the Division of Homeland Safety, which is the lead federal company,” reads a press release from SOUTHCOM.
Though the discharge didn’t specify models, the service members U.S. Military South and Marines with 1st Battalion, sixth Marine Regiment and 2nd Marine Division.
The Coast Guard, which is below DHS, has additionally performed a number of border missions since President Donald Trump took workplace on Jan. 20.
The Coast Guard has performed a number of flights between California and Texas in response to Trump’s government orders on migration.
“By these ongoing operations, the Coast Guard is detecting, deterring and interdicting aliens, drug smugglers and people intent on terrorism or different hostile exercise earlier than they attain our border. The Coast Guard continues to surge property and personnel from throughout the nation to boost presence in key areas and safe U.S. borders and maritime approaches,” reads a Coast Guard launch.
The service has additionally put out various releases about interdictions and repatriations of individuals trying to come back into america illegally. Of word, Coast Guard interdictions, together with these off of Level Loma, Calif., had been occurring previous to Trump’s inauguration.
