The Pentagon announced Saturday the deployment of approximately 3,000 additional active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, bolstering President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to curb illegal immigration. Ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the reinforcements—including a Stryker brigade combat team and a general support aviation battalion—will join over 9,200 troops already stationed along the nearly 2,000-mile frontier in the coming weeks.
The move comes as illegal border crossings have plummeted to record lows since Trump’s return to office, a trend he hailed as proof his policies are working.
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“The Invasion of our Country is Over,” Trump declared in a Truth Social post Saturday. “Thanks to the Trump Administration Policies, the Border is CLOSED to all Illegal Immigrants. Anyone who tries to illegally enter the U.S.A. will face significant criminal penalties and immediate deportation.” The new troops, equipped with Stryker armored vehicles designed for urban operations, aim to “protect the territorial integrity of the United States,” the Pentagon said, reinforcing a security operation that’s slashed crossings by 95% from last year.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data backs Trump’s claim: February saw just 8,326 apprehensions at the southern border—the lowest monthly total on record—down from 189,913 in February 2024 and 61,465 in January 2025.
The drop follows Trump’s strict enforcement measures, including expanded deportations and diplomatic pressure on foreign governments, contrasting sharply with the Biden era’s higher totals. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem doubled down on X: “The world is hearing our message: do not come to our country illegally. If you do, we will find you, arrest you, and send you back.”
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The latest deployment adds to an existing force of 4,200 active-duty personnel and 5,000 National Guard troops under state command, bringing the total to over 12,000 once completed. While military support at the border dates back to the 1990s—addressing migration, drugs, and crime—Trump has escalated its role, fulfilling a campaign vow to seal the border. The Stryker unit and aviation battalion will enhance detection, monitoring, and logistical support, though they won’t directly interdict migrants, per Pentagon policy.
The announcement follows a flurry of administration moves, including a shelved minerals deal with Ukraine after a fiery Oval Office clash with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. Trump’s focus remains domestic, with border security a linchpin. Critics argue the troop surge is overkill given the low crossing numbers, but supporters—like Noem and Hegseth—say it’s a necessary deterrent. “This is about sending a message,” a Pentagon official told reporters anonymously. “The numbers are down because the policy is clear.”
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As the additional forces roll out, Trump’s border strategy—blending military might with punitive measures—faces little resistance domestically, with crossings at historic lows. Yet, the long-term cost and impact on U.S.-Mexico relations remain uncertain. For now, the administration sees a closed border as a win, with Hegseth’s Strykers poised to keep it that way.
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