The Department of Homeland Security has asked the Pentagon to keep active-duty forces on the U.S.-Mexico border through Jan. 31, defense officials familiar with the request confirmed to Military Times.

The total request is for about 4,000 forces, filling the same roles as had been previously sought: aviation support, military police, logistics and medics, two defense officials said on the condition they not be named.

play_circle_filled Mattis explains new roles, authorities at border The new authorities allow for lethal use of force, some law enforcement activity — but Mattis said troops will not violate Posse Comitatus

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last week that as the requests from DHS evolve, some troops could be extended, and some other units may be rotated in. But for many soldiers now on the border, the extension means they may spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas away deployed — but still within the U.S.

“Today, DHS submitted a request for assistance to the Department of Defense to extend its support through January 31, 2019,” DoD said in a statement, “This request refines support to ensure it remains aligned with the current threat, the nature of the mission, and [Customs and Border Protection] operational requirements.”

DHS did not ask for any new capabilities in the new request for assistance, the officials said.

300 troops shifted from Texas and Arizona to California for border duty The military says about 300 troops who had been deployed in south Texas and Arizona as part of a border security mission have been moved to California for similar work.

One official said the 4,000 figure was about “right-sizing” the mission and it was likely the forces would focus on needs in California, where a surge of migrants has gathered at the Tijuana checkpoint.

× Fear of missing out? Sign up for the Early Bird Brief - a daily roundup of military and defense news stories from around the globe. Thanks for signing up. By giving us your email, you are opting in to the Early Bird Brief.

DoD said that 2,400 troops are currently deployed in Texas, 1,800 are in California and 1,400 are in Arizona.