Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump is expected to grant new authority to US troops on the Southwest border with Mexico to protect Customs and Border Protection personnel from migrants if they engage in violence, according to two defense officials and another US official directly familiar with the plans. An additional administration official tells CNN that the authority will also authorize protection of federal property.

Currently troops do not have any authorities that would allow them to intervene if CBP personnel came under attack unless they need to act in their own self-defense.

There are 5,800 to 5,900 troops assigned to the border mission.

The move could be announced as soon as Monday evening, officials said. The mission will be characterized solely as "protection of CBP" personnel, according to the administration official.

This comes as Department of Homeland Security officials said Monday that they had started to get information from "multiple sources including individuals in the Mexican government" of potential waves or groups of individuals who were discussing an incursion into legal ports of entry in California by attempting to pass through vehicle lanes.

Read More