The U.S. military has significantly expanded its presence along the southern border with Mexico in response to growing threats from drug cartels, including concerns about drone attacks against Border Patrol agents. With thousands of troops now stationed along the border, the move signals a major escalation in border security operations and raises questions about its impact on immigration, drug trafficking, and U.S.-Mexico relations.
How Many Troops Are Deployed?
Currently, approximately 5,000 active-duty U.S. troops are stationed along the border, with military officials warning that this number could continue to rise. General Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command, told lawmakers, “We have also increased some uniquely military capabilities that will get after … the cartels, which are driving the illegal migration. That is primarily through airborne ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] to get more information on those and figure out how we can counter their actions.”
As part of the increased deployment, the U.S. has sent elements of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and a general support aviation battalion to the border. This new phase of deployments could bring the total number of active-duty military personnel at the border to 9,000—more than four times the number of monthly migrant apprehensions in recent weeks.
Trump’s decision to increase the military presence fulfills his campaign pledge to declare a “national emergency” at the border and exert full operational control over crossings. On January 20, the first day of his second term, he signed an executive order directing military leaders to send “as many units or members of the Armed Forces” as needed to secure the border.
Mexico’s Response: National Guard Troops Deployed
In response to U.S. demands, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has dispatched 10,000 National Guard troops to Mexico’s northern border to combat drug trafficking and irregular migration. This move follows pressure from Trump, who threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico unless Sheinbaum’s government took stronger action against smuggling operations.
Sheinbaum, however, emphasized that this deployment was not a capitulation to the U.S. but rather an effort to improve Mexico’s domestic security. “This is not the first time that there have been flights of this type, it’s not out of nowhere,” she said when asked about the heightened surveillance activities near the border.
Despite Mexico’s efforts, some critics argue that these troop movements are more about political posturing than an effective security strategy. The Mexican government has previously deployed National Guard troops to the border in 2019 and 2021, yet those efforts did little to stem the flow of drugs or migrants into the U.S.
The Border Wall: Will It Be Completed?
Vice President JD Vance recently announced the administration’s renewed commitment to completing the U.S.-Mexico border wall by 2029. Speaking at Eagle Pass, Texas, Vance stated, “I think the president’s hope is that by the end of the term we build the entire border wall. And of course, that’s the physical structure, the border wall itself, but we even heard today, there are so many good technological tools. So many great artificial intelligence-enabled technologies.”
The Trump administration believes that the wall, combined with enhanced surveillance and military presence, will deter illegal immigration and drug smuggling. However, critics question its effectiveness. Cartels have historically found ways to bypass physical barriers through tunnels, drones, and bribery of border officials.
Impact on Illegal Crossings
Since Trump’s executive orders took effect, border apprehensions have fallen dramatically. February 2025 recorded just over 8,000 apprehensions, the lowest monthly total in decades. Trump heralded the decline as proof that his immigration policies were working, posting on social media, “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!”
However, some experts argue that migration flows are often cyclical and that enforcement strategies alone cannot permanently stop illegal crossings. Migrants fleeing violence, poverty, and political instability may simply find new routes or rely more heavily on smugglers. “They’ll need our services more,” one cartel smuggler told ABC News. “The pitch to migrants is that they won’t be able to cross without the group’s help.”
Impact on Drug Trafficking
Despite heightened enforcement, drug cartels continue to operate with relative impunity. Investigative reports indicate that fentanyl smuggling remains a thriving business, with cartels adapting to increased security measures.
ABC News reported that cartel operatives continue to smuggle fentanyl across the border despite Trump’s crackdown. “Shortly after the cartel unloaded the guns, they loaded five sandwich-sized packages of fentanyl into that same SUV, stashed in a hidden compartment beneath the center console,” the report stated. With 10,000 pills in that single shipment, the street value exceeded $50,000, contributing to an untold number of potential overdose deaths in the U.S.
Although the vast majority of fentanyl seizures occur at official ports of entry, U.S. officials maintain that strengthening the entire border is necessary to curb drug trafficking. “Yes, the flow of narcotics has decreased,” said Ricardo Moreno, deputy director of Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations. “But if there is one [seizure] event, it is a lot, and that is what President Trump wants: not an ounce, not a gram, not a pound of fentanyl can enter the United States.”
The Potential Effects of Military Intervention
Some Republican leaders have suggested that direct military action against drug cartels in Mexico may be necessary. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has voiced support for military strikes on cartel operations, while Trump has formally designated the cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.” This designation paves the way for possible military interventions inside Mexico.
However, Mexican officials strongly oppose any unilateral U.S. military action on their soil. “Will we ask for an explanation? Yes, but as part of our coordination with them,” Sheinbaum said in response to questions about U.S. military flights near the border.
There are also concerns that military intervention could backfire. Cartels have shown remarkable resilience, adapting to crackdowns by diversifying their operations. Human smuggling has become an increasingly profitable business, with some cartels now earning as much from trafficking migrants as from selling drugs. “We’re not worried. This is day to day,” one cartel member told ABC News. “This is what we’re going to do.”
The U.S. military’s increased presence at the southern border marks a major shift in immigration and security policy. While initial results show a decline in illegal crossings, the long-term effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain. Cartels continue to adapt, and drug smuggling persists despite heightened enforcement.
NP Editor: This is the beginning not the complete solution. By halting 95% of the illegal crossings, we now have a more manageable problem, and can tighten up further in stages. No one expects a 100% solution to the drug trafficking problem just by tightening the border, we will have to go after the cartels where they live.
