Defense Secretary James Mattis has approved the extension of active duty troops to the southern border security mission through Jan. 31, according to the Pentagon.
The Defense Department statement did not say how many of the 5,600 troops currently deployed to the border would be required to stay, but two U.S. officials told ABC News last week that an extension could take form as a rotational deployment — meaning different units would regularly rotate into the border support mission.
Some of the troops currently deployed were expected be relieved on Dec. 15 when the original mission was slated to conclude, allowing them to presumably make it home for the holidays.
