WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress are focused on measures they say will crack down on illegal immigration. The Pentagon is sending troops to the southern border and Congress is sending the president his first bill to sign, dealing with illegal immigration. The White House says President Trump is following through on plans to curb illegal immigration. The Defense Department is now sending 1500 troops to the southern border. "This is something President Trump campaigned on. The American people have been waiting for such a time as this,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Republicans in Congress praised the president. "He's using his executive authority because desperate times call for desperate measures,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). House Speaker Mike Johnson says Congress and the White House are on the same page. "What he's doing is kickstarting what will ultimately be our legislative agenda,” said Johnson. Part of that agenda Republicans say is already in motion. The Laken Riley Act requires federal officials to detain illegal immigrants accused of theft. 46 House Democrats voted for it but those against it, like Texas Democrat Greg Casar, say many Republican measures to crack down on illegal immigration, "Don't do anything to make people safer or to fix our immigration system." Some of the immigration policies are already facing lawsuits. The ACLU is suing over the president's push for "expedited" deportations and 22 states are suing to stop the president's move to end birthright citizenship.