Military personnel have begun deploying to the southwest border, with 500 Marines leading operations in California as part of a broader border security initiative ordered by President Donald Trump.
The Marines, who arrived in San Ysidro, California, started installing temporary barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border wall on January 27, 2025. This deployment marks the first wave of active-duty troops in a mission that has expanded to 1,600 service members.
Additional Army units from across the nation are gathering at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where approximately 750 troops have assembled. These soldiers, equipped with M-4 rifles and full combat gear, have arrived from various bases including Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which oversees the operation, confirmed that troops will carry weapons for self-defense purposes but emphasized they will not engage in law enforcement activities. The deployment locations along the 1,950-mile border spanning four states will be determined by Customs and Border Protection.
The military personnel will support existing border operations by conducting vehicle maintenance, construction work, transportation, and surveillance activities. They join approximately 2,500 National Guard members already stationed at the border as part of an ongoing mission that began in 2018.
Parallel to the troop deployment, the Air Force is managing deportation flights, having completed three missions to Guatemala last week. The Coast Guard transports individuals selected for deportation to Texas and California, where Air Force planes complete the international transfer under Department of Homeland Security supervision.
Separately, Texas maintains its own border security initiative, with the state's National Guard announcing an additional 400 troops to support local law enforcement. Texas currently has about 5,000 troops deployed within the state and has requested federal reimbursement for the $11 billion spent on border operations since 2021.