The Pentagon confirmed Thursday hundreds of U.S troops are being sent to the southern border with Mexico in order to stop a Central American caravan that has swelled to 10,000 people.

BREAKING: U.S. official says hundreds more U.S. troops expected to deploy to southern border as caravan continues journey north — Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) October 25, 2018

UPDATE: At least 800 U.S. military active-duty forces expected to deploy to southern border, troops largely engineers, doctors and lawyers: U.S. official — Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) October 25, 2018

Earlier this week President Trump threatened to send the military to the border and administration officials have repeatedly vowed the illegal carvan will not be granted entry to the U.S.

I am watching the Democrat Party led (because they want Open Borders and existing weak laws) assault on our country by Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, whose leaders are doing little to stop this large flow of people, INCLUDING MANY CRIMINALS, from entering Mexico to U.S..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2018

....In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught - and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!.. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2018

....The assault on our country at our Southern Border, including the Criminal elements and DRUGS pouring in, is far more important to me, as President, than Trade or the USMCA. Hopefully Mexico will stop this onslaught at their Northern Border. All Democrats fault for weak laws! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2018

It is unclear at this point exactly what role the troops will play or from which branch they will deploy, but they will offer backup to Border Patrol agents and already stationed National Guard troops.

In the meantime, a second caravan has developed in Honduras and is also making its way north. During a White House meeting earlier this week, Vice President Mike Pence revealed these caravans are being funded and supported by Venezuela, in addition to leftist organizations.