(NewsNation) — The U.S. military is expanding its role in border security with the presence of the USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, on the southern border.
The USS Gravely was deployed Saturday under U.S. Northern Command to counter illegal immigration, weapons trafficking and transnational crime.
The warship departed from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, heading to U.S. territorial waters covering the continental United States, Alaska, Canada and Mexico.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, who oversees U.S. Northern Command, said the deployment supports President Donald Trump’s executive order to secure the southern border.
The Department of Defense described the move as a significant shift, giving the U.S. Navy a direct role in stopping threats before they reach American shores.
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Since taking office, Trump has designated Mexican cartels as terrorist threats, allowing law enforcement to pursue them with the same legal framework as groups like ISIS. The Department of Justice has streamlined terrorism charges, increased penalties and fast-tracked warrants.
At the southern border, the administration has added 9,000 active-duty troops, deployed Stryker combat teams and reinforced aerial support with Black Hawk helicopters to assist Border Patrol. Mexico has also stepped up enforcement, adding 10,000 troops to its side of the border.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also ramped up efforts. The agency has reportedly arrested more than 32,800 people in just 50 days — more than all of last year’s at-large arrests. Nearly 75% had criminal records or pending charges, officials said, including more than 1,100 gang members and 39 suspected terrorists — triple last year’s numbers.
Immigration attorney Rolando Vazquez told NewsNation that levels of self-deportation have been higher than expected.
“I’m very surprised with the amount of self-deportations. I knew there would be self-deportations, but not at the level I’m seeing,” Vazquez said.
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“Many of these immigrants are going to other countries to look for … new beginnings in countries that don’t have aggressive immigration laws,” Vazquez said.
Guantanamo Bay has already received its first detainees, including alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, marking a major shift in how the U.S. handles criminal migrants.
Border officials say the results are clear: Illegal crossings have dropped by 94%, and the administration’s policies have effectively halted migrant releases into the U.S.
The focus now shifts to Congress, where new legislation aims to classify fentanyl trafficking as a national security threat.
