Washington (AFP) – The United States is extending until September 30 the deployment of active duty soldiers and Coast Guard members at the border with Mexico, officials said Monday.

As part of the move to extend the mission past the original January 31 deadline, the Pentagon said it was “transitioning its support at the southwestern border from hardening ports of entry to mobile surveillance and detection, as well as concertina wire emplacement between ports of entry.”

“DoD will continue to provide aviation support,” the statement added, referring to the Department of Defense.