In a significant move to bolster border security, the Pentagon is preparing to deploy counter-drone capabilities along the U.S.-Mexico border. This initiative, aimed at supporting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement directives, was revealed during a House Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on April 29, 2025. Senior defense officials, including Mark Ditlevson, the acting assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, emphasized the need for enhanced measures to ensure operational control of the border.
President Donald Trump has issued several executive orders directing the Department of Defense (DOD) to take all appropriate actions to secure the border. Ditlevson explained, "The department, in turn, is responding by preparing the path for employment of counter-small uncrewed aerial system (CsUAS) activities along the border — both in support of DOD interests and in support of the Department of Homeland Security as the lead federal agency." This response comes amid growing concerns over unauthorized drone activity that poses threats to national security.
Rear Adm. Paul Spedero Jr., vice director for operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that drug cartels have increasingly utilized uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for unauthorized surveillance to assess troop movements and even conduct kinetic attacks. He stated, "We know that cartels have used UAS for unauthorized surveillance to assess our troop size, our movements, to solicit and enable attacks from other vectors." This shift in tactics by transnational criminal organizations necessitates a robust counter-drone strategy.
During the hearing, Ditlevson and Spedero confirmed that the Pentagon is in the process of acquiring hardware and software assets designed to assist combatant commanders in understanding their operational environments and enhancing defenses against UAS threats. However, several lawmakers expressed concerns that service members still lack confidence in determining when they are authorized to respond to incursions from unidentified drones. Spedero reassured them, stating, "This is the burden of command... if there is something that is assessed as a threat to your forces and your installation, you not only have the authority, but the responsibility to act."
In light of these developments, Rep. William Timmons, chair of the subcommittee, highlighted the urgency of implementing counter-drone technology at the border. He remarked, "It’s critical — the cartels are using drones to surveil our military and law enforcement at the border. That’s not good, and they’re going to use everything they can to find holes that will then dictate their behavior. So yes, we need to have counter-drone technology there." This sentiment underscores the necessity for immediate action to address the evolving threats posed by drone technology.
In a related effort to enhance border security, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the newly designated New Mexico National Defense Area on April 30, 2025. This area was established to provide a federally protected zone where U.S. troops and border patrol can work together to deter illegal crossings. Hegseth made it clear that any attempt to illegally enter this zone would be met with immediate detention by military personnel and border patrol agents, stating, "This is Department of Defense property. Any illegal [attempt] to enter that zone is entering a military base — a federally protected area. You will be detained."
Since January 2025, the DOD has ramped up efforts to curb illegal crossings, with initial deployments earlier this year including 1,600 active-duty Marines and soldiers joining the 2,500 reservists already mobilized. In early March, the department sent a Stryker brigade combat team and a general support aviation battalion to the southwestern border, equipped with vehicles and aviation assets to support mobility and surveillance.
In late March, service members assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB) were authorized to conduct patrols, marking a shift from their previous static roles of detection and monitoring. The Defense Department also assumed jurisdiction over 109,651 acres of federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border, officially designating it the New Mexico National Defense Area on April 18, 2025. This transfer of jurisdiction is set to last for three years, according to the Department of the Interior.
With this new designation, federal troops participating in JTF-SB can temporarily detain trespassers until appropriate law enforcement can assume custody. Furthermore, service members are now authorized to conduct cursory searches of trespassers, implement crowd control measures, and provide emergency medical support to prevent loss of life or injury. Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, stated, "Joint Task Force Southern Border will conduct enhanced detection and monitoring, which will include vehicle and foot patrols, rotary wing and fixed surveillance site operations."
These measures are part of a broader strategy initiated by President Trump, who declared a national emergency at the southern border on his first day in office. He cited an overrun border plagued by cartels, criminal gangs, and human traffickers as a critical concern for national security. In a document signed on that day, he emphasized the need for the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. armed forces to work together to seal the border.
As U.S. troops continue to work alongside Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to secure the southern border, the enhanced authorities granted to service members operating in the New Mexico National Defense Area are expected to improve their effectiveness in deterring illegal crossings. Hegseth reiterated the administration's commitment to achieving "100% operational control" of the border, stating, "For too long, our southern border was poorly equipped and understaffed, and our warfighters were restricted from doing their jobs."
With the deployment of counter-drone technology and the establishment of the New Mexico National Defense Area, the Pentagon is taking decisive steps to address the complex challenges of border security in an evolving landscape of threats. As these initiatives unfold, the collaboration between military forces and law enforcement will be crucial in ensuring the safety and security of the U.S.-Mexico border.
