Washington - The deployment had previously been authorised through January 31 by Jim Mattis.
As part of the move to extend the mission past the original January 31 deadline, the Pentagon said it was "transitioning its support at the southwestern border from hardening ports of entry to mobile surveillance and detection, as well as concertina wire emplacement between ports of entry."
"DoD will continue to provide aviation support," the statement added, referring to the Department of Defence.