Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to the southern border on Monday, marking a significant shift in national security priorities under the Trump administration. Speaking alongside acting Border Czar Tom Homan, Hegseth made it clear: The U.S. military is fully committed to securing the border, a mission he says the troops are eager to embrace.
“For decades, our men and women in uniform have been deployed overseas, protecting other nations’ borders. It’s about time we secure our own,” Hegseth declared in El Paso, Texas.
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This visit follows President Trump’s immediate deployment of military forces to the border on his first day in office. Over 1,500 troops have already reinforced the efforts of Border Patrol and state law enforcement. The impact has been swift, with a sharp decline in illegal crossings.
Border Security as National Security
Hegseth framed border security as a vital national security issue. “Border security is national security,” he stated, emphasizing that allowing unchecked migration poses serious risks. “Tens of millions of people have poured across this border under Joe Biden’s administration—unchecked. We have no idea who they are, where they’re coming from, or what their intentions are.”
Hegseth, a veteran himself, pointed to the frustration among service members who spent years defending foreign borders while their own country faced escalating security threats. “Talking to the men and women in uniform, they’re proud to be here. They’re motivated because they’re defending their friends, their families, their communities, their churches, their schools. This is what they signed up for—protecting America.”
A ‘Game Changer’ Approach
Homan, who has spent years enforcing immigration law, called the new approach a “game changer.” He credited President Trump’s leadership for taking decisive action and giving law enforcement the resources needed to restore order.
“We will finally succeed and have operational control of our southern border with this president in charge,” Homan asserted.
Hegseth echoed this confidence, stating that the days of open borders are over. “This stops now under President Trump, and the Defense Department is proud to be a part of it. We’ve defended other places and other spaces—we will defend this line.”
Bipartisan Opposition and Media Reaction
Not everyone is supportive of the administration’s aggressive stance. Critics argue that military involvement in border enforcement is unprecedented and unnecessary. Some lawmakers have expressed concerns over the escalation, while others claim the administration is using the military for political purposes.
However, Hegseth dismissed these concerns, saying that the military has long played a role in border operations—just not at the level now required. “The Defense Department has been helping on the border for decades,” he said. “We’re just finally taking it seriously.”
Looking Ahead
With additional deployments expected and border security remaining a top priority, the administration has signaled that enforcement will only intensify. Hegseth and Homan both reaffirmed that under President Trump, immigration laws will be enforced, and national sovereignty will be defended.
“We are going to get control of this border,” Hegseth promised.
His words mark a clear message: The military is no longer just a force abroad—it is now fully engaged in defending America’s frontlines.