Pentagon Prioritizes Border Security as Defense Secretary Visits Mexico Border

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday in his first trip since taking office, reinforcing the Pentagon’s commitment to border security under President Donald Trump. The administration is increasingly leveraging military resources to enforce immigration policies, including deploying more troops, using military aircraft for deportations, and utilizing military bases to house migrants.

Hegseth emphasized the administration’s objective in a post on X, stating, “POTUS wants 100% operational control of the border—and we will deliver.” His visit follows Trump’s national emergency declaration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, citing illegal immigration and fentanyl as security threats. The declaration imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and additional duties on Chinese goods.

Trump also announced plans to expand the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to house 30,000 migrants, with his border czar, Tom Homan, aiming to start transfers within 30 days. Additional U.S. Marines have arrived at the facility to facilitate the expansion. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has begun deporting over 5,000 migrants from detention centers in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California, using military aircraft.

Two U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed that military flights transported detained migrants to Honduras and Peru over the weekend. These deportations come at a significant cost, with a military flight to Guatemala reportedly costing $4,675 per migrant—over five times the cost of a first-class commercial ticket from El Paso.

The administration’s use of military resources for immigration enforcement signals a shift in strategy, aligning with Trump’s broader push for stricter border policies and national security measures.