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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deployed approximately 3,000 active-duty troops to the southern border of the U.S.
The Stryker Brigade Combat Team is expected to arrive within weeks, according to a Defense Department statement on Saturday.
“As directed by President Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the deployment of a Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) and General Support Aviation Battalion to reinforce and expand current border security operations to seal the border and protect the territorial integrity of the United States, a priority for the President,” Department of Defense Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell stated.
“These forces will arrive in the coming weeks and their deployment underscores the Department’s unwavering dedication to working alongside the Department of Homeland Security to secure our southern border and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States under President Trump’s leadership,” he continued.
Hegseth also addressed the announcement in a post to X on Saturday.
“We are dead serious about 100% OPERATIONAL CONTROL of the southern border,” Hegseth said.
The Trump administration has adopted a stricter approach to immigration enforcement at the southern border and efforts to curb drug cartel influence in Mexico. According to The Wall Street Journal, during a Jan. 31 phone call with Mexican officials, Hegseth cautioned that the U.S. might take unilateral military action against the cartels if the Mexican government fails to crack down on these criminal organizations.
The news also comes as President Trump posted an update on border security touting record lows on Saturday.
“The month of February, my first full month in Office, had the LOWEST number of Illegal Immigrants trying to enter our Country in History – BY FAR! There were only 8,326 apprehensions of Illegals by Border Patrol at the U.S. – Mexico Border, all of whom were quickly ejected from our Nation or, when necessary, prosecuted for crimes against the United States of America. This means that very few people came – The Invasion of our Country is OVER,” he wrote.
“In comparison, under Joe Biden, there were 300,000 Illegals crossing in one month, and virtually ALL of them were released into our Country. 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,” Trump added.
