The Pentagon has reportedly approved a request from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for more than 700 National Guard troops to supplement U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in several southwestern states.

Defense Department officials approved the deployment of 736 National Guard service members to assist Border Patrol officials in four states: California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas, the Washington Examiner reported.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is the third such request from Border Patrol since April, and the National Guard already has about 1,100 members stationed along the border with Mexico.

Defense Secretary James Mattis James Norman MattisBiden courts veterans amid fallout from Trump military controversies Trump says he wanted to take out Syria's Assad but Mattis opposed it Gary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November MORE has approved the deployment of up to 4,000 National Guard troops to the border, which are not authorized to perform law enforcement duties or interact with migrants detained by Border Patrol unless authorized by Mattis.

The move comes after President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE signed an executive memorandum in April directing Mattis to support DHS in an effort to combat a “drastic surge of illegal activity on the southern border.”

DHS officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill on Friday night.

DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenDHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections Democrats smell blood with new DHS whistleblower complaint MORE said at a press briefing earlier this year that the threat posed by illegal immigration at the southern border poses a threat to the safety of American families and the "rule of law."

“The threat is real,” Nielsen said. “This threatens not only the safety of our communities and children, but also our very rule of law, on which, as you know, our country was founded.”