An operation to deploy 1,000 Army personnel and 500 Marines to the U.S.-Mexico border is underway, according to senior military officials. The troops will assist with immigration enforcement in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. U.S. border agents have also been instructed to deport migrants crossing illegally without allowing them to go through the asylum process. Omar Villafranca has details. Source

President Trump’s pardon of about 1,500 defendants convicted in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack has been lambasted by several police organizations and prompted fears that the move could lead to more violence. Scott MacFarlane reports. Source

All federal employees who hold roles in diversity, equity and inclusion programs have been placed on paid leave as President Trump, immediately after taking office this week, signed executive orders seeking to end DEI programs within the federal government. Weijia Jiang examines the response and possible impact of the move. Source

President Trump signed an executive order that “suspends the physical entry of aliens engaged in an invasion of the United States through the southern border.” Plus, all federal diversity, equity and inclusion employees were put on paid leave Wednesday evening following a White House memo. CBS News political reporter Olivia Rinaldi and CBS News immigration and politics reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez have more. Source

Here’s a look at the top stories making headlines on the “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell.” Source

President Trump is set to visit communities hit by wildfires in Southern California on Friday. The president continues to blame local and state officials for the devastation. Alene Tchekmedyian, investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times, joins “America Decides” to discuss the current status of the firefight and unpack Trump’s critical comments. Source

Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to appear before senators on Capitol Hill next week. It’s a highly anticipated confirmation hearing partly because of the former presidential candidate’s well-documented history of spreading false and misleading vaccine claims. Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News, joins “America Decides” to discuss the state of Kennedy’s nomination. Source

“I didn’t want to get out of my seat because I didn’t want to lose it,” said one guest at President Trump’s pre-inauguration Candlelight Dinner. Source

More than 20 states have sued the Trump administration over the president’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship. CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett spoke with the Democratic attorneys general of Michigan, New Jersey and Nevada before Trump’s inauguration about his pledge to tackle immigration policy. Source

A new wildfire called the Hughes Fire broke out in northwest Los Angeles County on Wednesday. It quickly scorched more than 5,000 acres of land in a few hours and forced some highway closures. Meanwhile, two other major fires in the area continue to burn. CBS News’ Jonathan Vigliotti reports and Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna joins “The Daily Report” to discuss the new fire and evacuations. Source