The Pentagon said Wednesday that it is deploying an additional 1,500 service members to the U.S.-Mexico border as President Trump follows through with campaign promises to crack down on immigration and increase deportation, as AP reported.

Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said service members will fly helicopters to assist border patrol agents and will help build physical barriers. DOD is also providing military aircraft for the Department of Homeland Security to deport more than 5,000 detained migrants.

“This is just the beginning,” Salesses said.

‘~10,000 Soldiers’

A plan shared internally within Customs and Border Protection said the administration plans to deploy “~10,000 soldiers” to help CBP’s border mission, CBS News reported.

The report said DOD may be asked to use some military installations as “holding facilities” for detainees.

Coast Guard also Activates

The Coast Guard will also “immediately surge assets – cutters, aircraft, boats and deployable specialized forces – to increase Coast Guard presence,” acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday said in a press release.

Lunday named six maritime border regions where it will first send forces.

CBP photo by Jerry Glaser