(CNN) Active duty troops on the southern border with Mexico began carrying out "welfare checks" on detained migrants earlier this month to help out overwhelmed Customs and Border Protection agents, two US defense officials have told CNN. The news comes as the Pentagon confirmed that it had approved a request Tuesday night from the Department of Homeland Security to authorize and fund an additional 1,000 National Guard troops to be deployed in support of CBP agents on border. "Active duty DOD military personnel are assisting Customs and Border Protection agents in CBP facilities by periodically monitoring migrant well-being, and reporting suspicious, violent, or medically related unresponsive behavior," one of the officials told CNN. If they observe such activity, US troops are then supposed to notify CBP personnel who would take over the handling of the situation from that point. The new welfare role for troops marks a departure from their original mission on the border and is raising questions about the nature of the military's role as the Trump administration faces criticism about the conditions of the facilities migrants are being housed in.

Source: CNN July 17, 2019 22:28 UTC