DoD Support to U.S. Border Security

U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) is supporting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its operational component, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), by providing mission-enhancing capabilities to secure the border and stop the flow of human trafficking, illegal drugs, contraband, criminals, and illegal immigrants into the country. USNORTHCOM’s mission-enhancing support enables CBP to conduct their law enforcement mission more efficiently and to support DHS efforts to manage border security and immigration processes.

 

  

The Department of Defense (DoD) has a long history of supporting efforts to secure U.S. borders. Since the early 1990s, DoD has supported civilian law enforcement agencies’ border security activities including counterdrug, counter transnational organized crime, and other transnational threats. The scope and magnitude of the support provided today is similar to the support provided during the Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden administrations.

On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump, issued and signed an array of Executive Orders (EO) related to the Southern Border including a national emergency declaration at the Southern Border and clarification of the military’s role in protecting the territorial integrity of the United States. The national emergency EO directs the Department of Defense through U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), to take all appropriate action to assist the Department of Homeland Security in obtaining full operational control of the Southern border.

Approximately 1,600 active-duty personnel from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps are deploying / have deployed to the southern border to augment the approximately 2,500 service members already deployed supporting CBP’s southern border mission. The exact number of personnel will fluctuate as units rotate personnel and as additional forces are tasked to deploy once planning efforts are finalized. 

Military personnel do not directly participate in civilian law enforcement activities. The active-duty personnel will support enhanced detection and monitoring efforts and repair and emplace physical barriers. Military personnel who have provided border security support as part of the FY2025 Department of Homeland Security request have performed to duties to include detection and monitoring, logistics, and transportation support that enhances CBP’s ability to impede or deny illegal crossings, maintain situational awareness, and apply the appropriate law enforcement response in support of its overall border security mission.

For imagery related to USNORTHCOM activities related to southern border operations, go to https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/DoDSWB25.

Border Operations

Operational Support

Service members providing motor transport operations support increase vehicle readiness rates. Military personnel dispatch vehicles, track preventative maintenance checks and services, and conduct light maintenance such as oil changes, tire changes, and battery replacements on CBP vehicles. DoD personnel may also operate heavy equipment such as forklifts, bulldozers, graders and front-end loaders to support sector/station loading and unloading of palletized shipments and infrastructure duties.

Detection and Monitoring Support

Service members supporting the CBP’s detection and monitoring mission man and operate mobile surveillance camera (MSC) vehicles at strategically placed sites to observe and report suspicious activity to CBP. MSC operators are working in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas along known corridors used by individuals illegally entering the United States. Military members are only utilized to detect and monitor movement of individuals suspected of preparing to enter the United States, or those who have already entered the United States without proper authority.

Crisis Response Force (CRF) Support

Service members supporting the CRF are capable of providing force protection, medical, aviation and engineering support anywhere along the border on short notice. The CRF is made up of an aviation unit, a military police unit, engineer unit, inherent medical capabilities, and associated support personnel for these units. The CRF is activated upon CBP request.

Air Support

DoD aviation support missions include tracking foot traffic signs, pickup/drop off of CBP agents in remote areas, monitoring for illicit activity, casualty evacuation, sling load capability, and transport of equipment as needed.

USNORTHCOM works closely with DHS and CBP to constantly assess support to CBP to ensure DoD has the right force, at the right time, in the right location to support CBP’s operational needs.

The following press releases relate to the U.S. Northern Command efforts to support the Department of Homeland Security (lead federal agency) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection mission to secure the southern border. 

Feb. 4, 2025: U.S. Northern Command announces Joint Task Force Headquarters, intelligence support
Jan. 24, 2025: Active-duty forces to bolster security at U.S. southern border
Jan. 23, 2025: USNORTHCOM bolsters security at southern border

Q1. (U) What is USNORTHCOM’s role as it relates to President Trump’s Southern Border Security Executive Order? 
Q1
. (U) USNORTHCOM is DoD’s operational lead for the employment of U.S. military forces to carry out President Trump’s Executive Orders on protecting the territorial integrity of the United States. The command is being supported by relevant DOD Combatant Commanders, Military Departments, and the National Guard Bureau, all of which are working in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection to secure the border

Q2. (U) Is this part of the border mission currently conducted by USNORTHCOM?
A2.
(U)The President’s Executive Order directs a new and different mission.  The initial surge of ~1,500 served to immediately increase the capacity of support to established CBP-support missions, but the size, composition, capabilities, and mission of the forces along the southern border will change.

Q3. (U) If DHS and CBP are the lead agencies for border security, why is the military needed?
A3.
(U) USNORTHCOM has provided support at the southern border, through requests by DHS, for roughly 20 years. Our presence at the border is not new. However, USNORTHCOM has been directed by Executive Order to provide more support at the border, and that is what we’re doing. A primary mission of USNORTHCOM is homeland defense, and the President has said the federal government must act with urgency and strength to end the threats posed by an unsecured border. We are aggressively carrying out the Command in Chief’s orders to augment DHS and CBP efforts there to achieve full operational control of the southern border.

Q4. (U) Will more military troops be going to the border?
A4. (U)
The initial number of military personnel recently sent to the southern border is about 1,600, and an additional 500 from 10th Mountain Division and 140 from the Joint Force will be joining the southern border mission. As we continue to enact the President’s Executive Order, we anticipate additional personnel will be tasked for support in the future. It’s too early to comment on what those are and what that looks like. The Department of Defense and USNORTHCOM is actively planning and assessing the situation to ensure we are postured to meet all requirements and needs at the border. As planning continues to evolve, we will provide updates and information as necessary to keep the public informed.

Q5. (U) How long will active-duty members be sent to the southern border to support this mission?
A5. (U)
The President’s EO stipulates that efforts will be ongoing until complete operational control of the southern border is achieved.

Border Security News

June 25, 2019

Soldiers rescue two migrants from waters on U.S. border

Two U.S. Army Soldiers rescued two migrants from canal waters on the U.S. border in El Paso, TX, June 20. The two Soldiers were part of a Mobile Surveillance Team assisting Customs and Border Protection on the Southwest border, saw a migrant family enter the canal.

Nov. 1, 2018

DoD units supporting DHS along Southwest Border

The Department of Homeland Security has requested the Department of Defense to provide a range of assistance, including planning, engineering, transportation, logistics and medical support to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Aug. 26, 2016

Southwest Border Region Visit

Gen. Lori Robinson, NORAD and USNORTHCOM Commander, was briefed on and toured the Southwest Border Region during a visit to San Diego, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016.


Border Security Photos

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Border Security Video

Video by Spc. Christina Westover
CPB and DoD Active Duty Forces Media Day
DoD Support to CBP Along the SWB
June 6, 2019 | 7:43
Brig. Gen. Walter Duzzny, the Deputy Commanding General of United States Army North, speaks about the troops stationed along the southern border during a press conference in Sunland Park, New Mexico on June 6, 2019. The Department of Defense has deployed units across the Southwest Border at the request of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is providing surveillance and detection, logistical, engineering, and force protection functions.


Video By:
Spc. William Dickinson
24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element
Fort Bliss, TX 79918
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