Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency at the southern border, deploying thousands of U.S. troops in an aggressive effort to curb illegal immigration from Mexico. Six months into this operation, the militarization of the border has dramatically escalated—though many stationed troops report minimal activity.
This week, an Army infantry patrol in Nogales, Arizona encountered just two individuals attempting to cross the border. The limited contact underscores the effectiveness—yet monotony—of the deployment.
“Deterrence is actually boring,” said 24-year-old Sgt. Ana Harker-Molina, an Army soldier and naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Panama. “But just by being here, watching the border, I know I’m helping our country.”
U.S. military presence at the border has more than tripled since January, now totaling over 7,600 troops from all branches. President Trump has also greenlit funding for 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, offering $10,000 signing and retention bonuses.
In Arizona’s remote Huachuca Mountains, a command center has been set up inside a converted community hall. There, battalion leaders pore over digital maps, coordinating operations along nearly 2,000 miles of border—marking a new level of military organization and surveillance.
According to the Associated Press, the fortified border has been designated as a de facto military zone, where troops are authorized to detain individuals accused of trespassing on federal bases and refer them for criminal prosecution—potentially resulting in prison time.
This border militarization is part of a broader national strategy. The Trump administration has deployed troops to suppress protests over ICE detention practices in cities like Los Angeles, to support ICE operations in Florida, and to house migrant detainees at military bases in New Jersey, Indiana, and Texas.
“It’s a strong, forceful response meant to send a message to his base that he’s serious about immigration enforcement,” said Dan Maurer, a retired U.S. Army judge advocate and law professor at Ohio Northern University. “It’s both unprecedented and puts the military in a politically charged, uncomfortable position.”
Public response varies widely across states. In southern New Mexico, where military presence surged in June, residents have expressed a mix of support and unease.
James Johnson, a fourth-generation farmer, welcomed the added enforcement. “We’ve always supported border security,” he said, watching seasonal workers harvest onions at $22 per crate. He described the current mission as a more assertive version of past deployments: “This one’s got teeth.”
But others worry the sweeping military footprint is cutting off access to cherished public lands. “I don’t want to be out hunting with my rifle and suddenly get stopped by someone claiming I’m in a military zone,” said Ray Trejo, a Luna County commissioner and regional coordinator for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “I don’t know if these folks have been trained to deescalate.”
As the Trump administration doubles down on a militarized border strategy, the line between immigration enforcement and military occupation continues to blur—raising constitutional questions and intensifying public debate over what border security in America should look like.
