Mexico has initiated the deployment of troops to its northern border as part of a comprehensive plan involving 10,000 military personnel. This action fulfills a promise made by President Claudia Sheinbaum to U.S. President Donald Trump in exchange for a postponement of proposed tariffs aimed at Mexico. Sheinbaum confirmed to reporters that the operation has officially commenced, following her announcement of a last-minute agreement with Trump focused on enhancing measures against illegal migration and curbing the smuggling of fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border.
On the ground, several hundred members of the National Guard were observed boarding a military aircraft in the southeastern city of Merida, en route to critical areas along the border. Troop arrivals have already been noted in key border cities, including Tijuana, located just south of California, and Ciudad Juarez, which shares a boundary with Texas. National Guard coordinator Jose Luis Santos remarked, “There will be patrols along the entire U.S.-Mexico border,” indicating that both foot and vehicle patrols would be conducted, as well as monitoring on various routes leading to the border.
In a collaborative effort, authorities from both Mexico and the U.S. launched a joint operation in Ciudad Juarez aimed at locating a possible tunnel that may facilitate illegal crossings into the United States. During searches on Tuesday, officials discovered a storm drain; however, it was confirmed that this particular drain did not extend into U.S. territory. This discovery follows the recent unearthing of a clandestine tunnel stretching approximately 300 meters (1,000 feet) from Ciudad Juarez into El Paso, Texas, which had been camouflaged within the existing storm sewer system that operates between the two cities.
Previously, Mexico had made similar commitments to tackle illegal drug and migrant flows during the administration of Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden. The security presence along the border has been robust, already featuring thousands of troops deployed across border states. In a recent announcement, Trump outlined extensive measures against the U.S.’s three largest trading partners: Mexico, Canada, and China. He proposed imposing a 25 percent tariff on both Mexico and Canada, alongside an additional 10 percent tariff for China, leading to an immediate reaction from markets that feared the onset of a global trade war.
Sheinbaum noted that troops were being reassigned from regions within Mexico that do not face substantial security issues, aimed at maintaining balance in national security. Official figures indicate that several hundred thousand people have lost their lives since the military was first deployed in 2006 to combat trafficking and related violence. Addressing concerns regarding national security, Sheinbaum asserted, “The U.S. border deployment does not leave the rest of the country without security.”
