The Pentagon announced on Saturday that an additional 3,000 active-duty troops will be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border, expanding a military operation aimed at curbing illegal immigration—a key priority of the Trump administration.
Increased Military Presence at the Border
This latest deployment includes 2,400 soldiers from a Stryker brigade combat team and 500 troops from an aviation brigade, bringing the total number of active-duty military personnel at the border to nearly 9,000. The Stryker armored vehicles, last used at the border in 2012, will also be reintroduced as part of the security effort.
A Department of Defense (DoD) press release confirmed that troops will arrive in the coming weeks to reinforce border security operations and “protect the territorial integrity of the United States.”
Trump Administration’s Border Security Strategy
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized the administration’s commitment to strict border control, stating on X (formerly Twitter):
“We are dead serious about 100% OPERATIONAL CONTROL of the southern border.”
This marks the second major military deployment to the border this year. In January, the Pentagon sent 1,500 active-duty troops as part of a broader crackdown on illegal crossings.
Executive Order Expands Military Role
The DoD and Department of Homeland Security are acting under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, directing the military to take “all appropriate action” to stem the flow of immigration. Trump has referred to the surge in border crossings as an “invasion”, justifying the use of military resources to enhance security.
This escalation underscores the administration’s aggressive stance on border security ahead of the 2024 elections, as it continues to implement stricter immigration policies and bolster enforcement measures.
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