March 02, 2025 09:00 AM PST
(PenniesToSave.com) – In a decisive move to restore order at the U.S.-Mexico border, President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 3,000 additional active-duty troops, reinforcing efforts to curb illegal immigration and combat cartel activity. This new deployment includes the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) and the General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), expanding the federal government’s capacity to secure the nation’s borders effectively.
Since President Trump’s re-election in November 2024, his administration has prioritized immigration enforcement and border security. His return to the White House has marked a sharp contrast from the previous administration’s handling of illegal immigration, which saw record-breaking border crossings and a dramatic rise in crime, homelessness, and drug-related deaths across the United States.
The Pentagon’s decision to deploy active-duty troops is a direct response to escalating border encounters, cartel-led drug trafficking, and humanitarian crises that have overwhelmed U.S. resources. This move underscores the administration’s firm stance on protecting American citizens and upholding the rule of law.
What’s Happening at the Southern Border?
The southern border has long been a focal point in America’s national security debate, but over the past several years, the situation has deteriorated into what many officials have called an unmanageable crisis.
In 2024 alone, U.S. Border Patrol agents recorded more than 2.7 million illegal crossings, setting a new record for border encounters in a single year. This surge in unauthorized migration has placed an immense burden on local, state, and federal governments, with cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles struggling to accommodate tens of thousands of newly arrived migrants. Resources have been stretched thin, with shelter systems, hospitals, and public services overwhelmed beyond capacity.
The consequences of unchecked illegal immigration have extended far beyond border states. Many interior cities, which once branded themselves as “sanctuary cities,” have reversed course and begun demanding federal assistance as they struggle to house and care for incoming migrants. Reports from border officials and law enforcement agencies indicate that criminal organizations and human smuggling networks have exploited the lack of enforcement, using overwhelmed border agents as a diversion while pushing illicit drugs, weapons, and trafficked individuals into the country.
To combat these threats and regain control, the Department of Defense has deployed additional military forces, consisting of:
- Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT): A rapid-response unit equipped with armored vehicles capable of navigating rugged terrain. These troops specialize in securing large areas and responding quickly to border incursions.
- General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB): This air support unit includes UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift aircraft, providing real-time surveillance and rapid troop movement across the border region.
These military forces join more than 9,200 personnel already stationed at the border, including National Guard troops and border enforcement officers. Their mission is to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, intercept criminal activities, and assist in logistical operations needed to process and remove individuals who cross the border illegally.
What This Means for American Families
The impact of border security policies reaches beyond immigration enforcement—it directly affects the economy, job market, and public safety of American citizens.
Economic Stability
Illegal immigration has a significant financial cost, one that is ultimately borne by American taxpayers. A 2023 report from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimated that illegal immigration costs U.S. taxpayers $151 billion annually. These costs stem from government programs providing healthcare, housing, legal services, and education to migrants who enter the country unlawfully.
During the previous administration, Trump successfully reduced the fiscal burden of illegal immigration by enforcing stricter deportation policies and requiring migrants to apply for asylum from outside U.S. borders. With the latest military deployment, the goal is to stem the flow of illegal entries and shift resources back toward American families who have been footing the bill for decades.
Job Market Integrity
The influx of undocumented workers has been a long-standing issue in industries such as construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and agriculture. By providing a supply of cheap labor, illegal immigration has been shown to suppress wages, particularly for low- and middle-income American workers who struggle to compete with businesses that hire illegal migrants at lower rates.
A study from Harvard University found that when unauthorized labor surges, wages decline, especially in industries reliant on blue-collar work. The Trump administration’s border security policies are designed to ensure that American jobs go to American citizens first, stabilizing wages and improving labor conditions for the U.S. workforce.
Community Safety
The rise of cartel-controlled smuggling operations has brought dangerous consequences to communities across the United States. The DEA reported a 94% increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths since 2019, with the majority of fentanyl being trafficked into the U.S. via the southern border. Weak enforcement has allowed criminal networks to flourish, resulting in a spike in violent crime, drug-related deaths, and human trafficking cases.
By securing the border and deploying military resources, the administration aims to disrupt cartel operations and prevent the flow of illicit drugs into American neighborhoods. Increased surveillance, rapid-response teams, and better coordination with local law enforcement will contribute to making cities and towns safer for American families.
President Trump’s Commitment to Border Security
Since his return to office, President Trump has wasted no time in implementing his “America First” immigration policies. Within his first 100 days, the administration has:
- Reinstated the Remain in Mexico policy, requiring asylum seekers to await their case decisions outside the U.S.
- Resumed border wall construction, closing gaps left unfinished by the previous administration.
- Increased deportation efforts, prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens and gang members.
- Cracked down on sanctuary cities, withholding federal funds from jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
The military deployment to the border is just the latest step in an aggressive national security agenda aimed at restoring order and ensuring that America’s immigration system is enforced as the law intended.
What Happens Next?
With federal troops now assisting in border enforcement, the administration is closely monitoring the situation to determine whether additional measures are needed. Plans are already in motion to expand detention facilities, streamline deportation proceedings, and strengthen international agreements to prevent mass migration from Central and South America.
The long-term goal is to make illegal crossings virtually impossible while encouraging legal immigration through a merit-based system. Critics of these policies argue that military involvement in border enforcement is excessive, but supporters maintain that without decisive action, the crisis would only continue to escalate.
Final Thoughts
The deployment of additional military personnel to the southern border marks a historic shift in U.S. immigration enforcement. After years of weak policies, the federal government is finally taking meaningful action to secure the border, protect American jobs, and reduce the financial strain caused by illegal immigration.
Under President Trump’s leadership, border security has once again become a top national priority, and the administration has made it clear that the United States will no longer tolerate open-border policies that endanger its citizens.
The coming months will reveal just how effective this deployment will be in reducing illegal crossings, dismantling cartel operations, and restoring law and order at America’s southern border.