Pentagon orders up to 3,000 troops, Stryker combat vehicles to border with Mexico

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorised the deployment of 2,500 to 3,000 additional active-duty troops to strengthen security along the U.S.-Mexico border, with soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade, stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, participating in the operation.

The troops, which include specialized personnel in engineering, intelligence, and public affairs, are expected to arrive in the coming weeks to support ongoing border security measures, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

The announcement, confirmed by the Pentagon on March 1, comes after a series of internal Defense Department discussions. The mission, which has been under planning since January, will involve the deployment of a Stryker brigade combat team, along with a helicopter unit, to enhance border security efforts. 

The Stryker combat vehicles, armored and capable of carrying up to 11 soldiers, have previously been used in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pentagon did not disclose the exact number of troops to be deployed, but emphasized that the mission aims to "seal the border and protect the territorial integrity of the United States."

"President Trump’s administration is dead serious about 100% OPERATIONAL CONTROL of the southern border," Hegseth stated in a post on X following the announcement.

The troops will primarily assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in their ongoing efforts to prevent illegal migration and drug smuggling. The Department of Defense has underscored its continued collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security in maintaining national security at the border. It is expected that the Stryker vehicles will be transported to the border via rail and truck, with the possibility of additional deployment to other states in the coming weeks.

This latest move comes despite a notable decrease in border crossings since President Trump’s administration took office. Although border crossings surged early in the Biden administration, new measures between U.S. and Mexican authorities have significantly reduced illegal migration in recent months.

While it remains unclear whether the Stryker vehicles will be equipped with weapons during this deployment, the vehicles' mobility and armored capabilities are seen as crucial to the mission’s success in securing the southern border.

The move has further sparked debate over the continued use of military personnel in domestic border security roles, a policy previously championed during Trump’s first term, where up to 8,000 troops were deployed for similar operations. The Pentagon has not clarified whether troops will operate in specific locations or utilize existing military facilities near the border, such as Marine Corps Air Station Yuma or Fort Huachuca in Arizona.

By Khagan Isayev