San Diego Border Patrol chief: Trump’s troop deployments have transformed BORDER SECURITY
03/23/2025 / By Ramon Tomey
- The deployment of U.S. military troops – including Army, Navy and Marines – to the southern border has significantly improved border security by acting as a “force multiplier,” enabling Border Patrol agents to focus on critical law enforcement tasks.
- Military personnel have supported surveillance, detection and infrastructure efforts, such as fortifying barriers with razor wire, freeing up agents to respond more swiftly to illegal crossings.
- U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks reported a 94 percent drop in illegal crossings, with daily apprehensions falling from 4,800 in 2023 to 285 in 2024. He attributed this decline to military support and stricter enforcement policies.
- The Trump administration’s policies – including summary deportations and closing asylum loopholes – have deterred illegal entry attempts, with migrants now directed to ports of entry or embassies to make asylum claims.
- The collaboration between the military, Texas National Guard and Border Patrol has strengthened physical barriers, sent a deterrent message and delivered tangible results, showcasing the effectiveness of a robust, multi-agency approach to border security.
A senior official of the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) has remarked that President Donald Trump’s deployment of military troops to support border security efforts has proven to be a game-changer.
Jeffrey Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent of the USBP’s San Diego Sector, pointed out that the presence of military personnel at the border has enabled USBP agents to focus on critical law enforcement tasks.
According to the chief patrol agent, the presence of the Army, Navy and Marines along the southern border has acted as a “force multiplier.” The military’s role in surveillance, detection and infrastructure support has freed up agents to respond more swiftly to illegal crossings. State forces, in the form of Texas National Guard (TNG) soldiers deputized as immigration officers, are also helping ease the USBP’s load. (Related: Texas Military Department ramps up recruitment to support border security efforts.)
Task Force Sapper, a unit of nearly 500 Marines, has been instrumental in fortifying border barriers with razor wire and other protective measures. Aside from barrier construction, the Marines are also engaged in surveillance and detection along stretches of the border. Meanwhile, Army engineers and military police from Fort Campbell in Kentucky have bolstered observational capabilities by backing up their counterparts from the Marines.
The numbers don’t lie
The results of this collaboration are striking, as evidenced by numbers shared by USBP Chief Mike Banks to CBS News last month. He reported a 94 percent drop in illegal crossings compared to the same period last year
According to Banks, USBP agents are now apprehending an average of 285 migrants per day, down from 4,800 daily apprehensions in 2023. He cited the deployment of troops and TNG soldiers being deputized as immigration officers for this dramatic decline in apprehensions.
“The greater the punishment, the larger the deterrent,” Banks said, underscoring the administration’s strict enforcement policies. He also pointed out that since Trump took office, only two migrants have been released from Border Patrol custody after crossing unlawfully, and those releases were tied to criminal prosecutions. “Anyone that has crossed the border between the ports of entry since this administration has taken office has not been released,” the USBP chief stated.
The military’s involvement has not only strengthened physical barriers, but also sent a clear message to potential migrants. By closing loopholes in the asylum system and implementing summary deportations, the administration has effectively discouraged illegal entry attempts. Banks noted that migrants are now being directed to ports of entry or embassies in their home countries to make asylum claims, rather than attempting to cross illegally.
The success of these measures is reflected in the numbers. In February, border apprehensions dropped to 30,000, a stark contrast to the over 130,000 encounters recorded in the same month in 2023 and 2024. This decline builds on a trend that began in mid-2024, when the Biden administration imposed tighter asylum restrictions. However, the Trump administration’s policies and military support have accelerated the reduction in illegal crossings.
As Stalnaker and Banks have made clear, the deployment of military troops has been a critical factor in bolstering border security. Their efforts have not only enhanced the operational capacity of USBP agents but also delivered tangible results, proving that a robust, multi-agency approach is key to safeguarding the nation’s borders.
Watch this clip of border towns being cleared of migrants amid troop deployments to the southern border.
This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
US spy plane conducts strategic operations along border as drug cartels look for war.
Trump’s bold plan: Military deployment and mass deportations to secure the border.
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Tagged Under:
border crossings, Border Patrol, border security, Illegal aliens, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, Immigration, invasion usa, Jeffrey Stalnaker, migrants, Mike Banks, military, national security, Open Borders, San Diego Sector, troop deployment
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