Secretary of Defense Hegseth Visits Troops on the Border – Guy D. McCardle
In a decisive action underscoring the administration’s commitment to border security, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently visited U.S. troops stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border. This visit highlighted the Pentagon’s intensified focus on fortifying the border and provided a platform for Hegseth to outline strategic initiatives aimed at achieving “operational control” of the nation’s southern frontier.
A Pledge for Operational Control
During his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border on February 3, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made it clear that the administration’s goal is to achieve “100 percent operational control” of the southern border.
He emphasized that this directive comes straight from the president and outlined several key steps to make it happen. According to Hegseth, securing the border requires setting the right policies, implementing proper procedures, deploying the necessary personnel, and utilizing the appropriate platforms and systems.
Hegseth stressed that under the current administration, anyone crossing the border illegally will be deported. He argued that this strict enforcement approach has already reduced the number of illegal crossings and improved overall border security. He also made it clear that the Department of Defense is fully prepared to use any available resources to support the detention and removal of those who enter the country unlawfully.
Comparing the current strategy to the previous administration, Hegseth criticized past policies, claiming that Border Patrol agents were forced to act as “babysitters,” processing and releasing illegal migrants instead of enforcing strict border security. He stated that the new policies have made it easier to properly identify individuals crossing the border, strengthening national security.
Hegseth’s visit and statements align with President Trump’s executive order declaring a national emergency over illegal immigration. The order directs the Department of Defense to take decisive action to seal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States.
In a decisive action underscoring the administration’s commitment to border security, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently visited U.S. troops stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border. This visit highlighted the Pentagon’s intensified focus on fortifying the border and provided a platform for Hegseth to outline strategic initiatives aimed at achieving “operational control” of the nation’s southern frontier.
A Pledge for Operational Control
During his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border on February 3, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made it clear that the administration’s goal is to achieve “100 percent operational control” of the southern border.
He emphasized that this directive comes straight from the president and outlined several key steps to make it happen. According to Hegseth, securing the border requires setting the right policies, implementing proper procedures, deploying the necessary personnel, and utilizing the appropriate platforms and systems.
Hegseth stressed that under the current administration, anyone crossing the border illegally will be deported. He argued that this strict enforcement approach has already reduced the number of illegal crossings and improved overall border security. He also made it clear that the Department of Defense is fully prepared to use any available resources to support the detention and removal of those who enter the country unlawfully.
Comparing the current strategy to the previous administration, Hegseth criticized past policies, claiming that Border Patrol agents were forced to act as “babysitters,” processing and releasing illegal migrants instead of enforcing strict border security. He stated that the new policies have made it easier to properly identify individuals crossing the border, strengthening national security.
Hegseth’s visit and statements align with President Trump’s executive order declaring a national emergency over illegal immigration. The order directs the Department of Defense to take decisive action to seal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States.
Strategic Military Deployments
As part of the effort to ramp up security at the southern border, the Pentagon is sending an additional 1,500 active-duty troops, adding to the 2,200 service members already stationed there under Task Force North. The Army has also instructed several units to prepare for possible deployment, including elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 10th Mountain Division, and a Stryker brigade from the 4th Infantry Division.
Specific units already being deployed include military police from multiple bases such as Fort Cavazos, Fort Bliss, Fort Campbell, Fort Drum, Fort Stewart, Fort Riley, Fort Carson, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Additionally, combat engineer companies from Fort Stewart, Fort Riley, and Fort Carson are being sent to support operations. To oversee these deployments, a headquarters unit from the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, consisting of about 500 soldiers, is being stationed at the southwest border.
Beyond the border itself, the military is also reinforcing operations at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with about 500 Marines assigned to assist in detaining migrants. The primary duties of the deployed troops include providing real-time intelligence, maintaining and staging Customs and Border Protection assets, constructing both temporary and permanent border barriers, and offering logistical, transportation, and aviation support.
With these reinforcements, the total number of troops along the border could potentially reach 10,000, significantly expanding the military’s role in immigration enforcement.
Guantanamo Bay: A New Detention Strategy
President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security to prepare Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to house up to 30,000 migrants labeled as “criminal illegal aliens.” Announced on January 29, 2025, this initiative is part of the administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
The plan involves expanding the existing Migrant Operations Center at the U.S. naval base to accommodate its maximum capacity. According to the administration, the facility will serve as a temporary holding center for migrants awaiting deportation, not a long-term detention site. The focus will be on “high-priority criminal aliens” who are considered threats to public safety.
Defense Secretary Hegseth, who has experience serving at Guantanamo, has strongly supported this move. He emphasized that the migrant facility would be completely separate from the high-security military prison that houses terror suspects. Hegseth described Guantanamo as a “waystation” where migrants would be held until they could be deported to their home countries or sent to third countries. He also highlighted the logistical benefits of using Guantanamo, noting its existing infrastructure and isolated location away from the U.S. mainland.
The administration aims to quickly expand detention capacity, with Hegseth stating the plan would “double our capacity immediately.”
However, the proposal has sparked criticism and raised several concerns. Human rights organizations argue that detaining migrants at Guantanamo could violate international law and basic human rights standards. There are also logistical questions about how quickly the facility can be expanded and how thousands of migrants will be transported there. Additionally, the Cuban government has condemned the move, claiming the U.S. is unlawfully detaining people on land they consider occupied territory. Nothing new there.
As of February 4, 2025, the administration has not provided full details on how and when this plan will be implemented. Legal and logistical challenges are expected in the coming weeks as both domestic and international opposition to the move continues to grow.
Interagency Collaboration and Future Initiatives
Today, Border Czar Tom Homan worked closely with Secretary Hegseth during their visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. Their joint efforts highlighted the Trump administration’s commitment to strengthening immigration policies and border security. Arriving together in El Paso, Texas, they presented a unified front.
Each official played a distinct but complementary role. Hegseth focused on how the Defense Department is supporting border security efforts, while Homan provided insight into immigration enforcement strategies. Both officials reinforced their commitment to using military resources to assist in securing the border, ensuring that the administration’s policies are effectively carried out. They also assessed the role of active-duty troops in assisting U.S. Customs and Border Protection with enforcement and logistical support.
Homan described the administration’s current strategy—which includes military involvement alongside other government agencies—as a “game changer” for border security. He expressed confidence that, under the current leadership, they would finally gain complete control over the southern border. Their collaboration reflects the administration’s comprehensive approach, combining military strength with immigration expertise to implement its border security policies.
Summing Up
Secretary Hegseth’s visit to the U.S.-Mexico border marks a significant escalation in the administration’s efforts to secure the nation’s southern boundary. Through increased troop deployments, strategic use of military resources, and the expansion of detention facilities, the Pentagon is taking a proactive role in addressing what it perceives as a critical threat to national security.
