Navy Warship Deployed on US-Mexico Border Mission
Navy Warship Deployed on US-Mexico Border Mission
Navy warship USS Gravely is on a mission to strengthen security at the U.S.-Mexico border, Pentagon officials said.
The deployment of the guided-missile destroyer that last year was involved in shooting down Iran-backed Houthi rebels' ship attacks in the Middle East to a region the U.S. Coast Guard ordinarily covers marks an escalation in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown efforts at the border.
The USS Gravely departed Virginia's Naval Weapons Station Yorktown Saturday for the Navy's U.S. Northern Command Area of Responsibility, per a statement from the combatant command.
This area encompasses the continental U.S., Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the surrounding water out to some 500 nautical miles.
USNORTHCOM was named "operational lead for the employment of U.S. military forces" to carry out President Trump's border executive orders and the ship "brings maritime capabilities" in response to these and a national emergency declaration, it notes.
The combatant command is filling "critical capabilities gaps in support" of the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection, according to the statement, which does not elaborate further on this.
The USS Gravely is participating as part of the Defense Department's response to President Trump's executive order on the border to "protect the United States' territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security," per a statement from Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander, U.S. Northern Command.
It's contributing "to a coordinated and robust response to combating maritime related terrorism, weapons proliferation, transnational crime, piracy, environmental destruction, and illegal seaborne immigration," according to USNORTHCOM.
Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command, added in a statement the deployment "marks a vital enhancement to our nation's border security framework."
The Coast Guard's specialized, deployable maritime law enforcement teams, called Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), "will be embarked aboard Gravel," per USNORTHCOM.
These teams carry out missions including to counter piracy, military combat operations, stop undocumented immigrants, "military force protection, counter terrorism, homeland security, and humanitarian response," per the statement.
Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot said in an emailed statement Monday the Defense Department "is fully prepared to support the President's national security priorities including those surrounding the Panama Canal."
Trump has spoken of "reclaiming" the canal, but Ullyot said the Pentagon was "working with Panama on several exercises and events throughout the year."
He added: "These exercises will involve troop movements in the region and will strengthen our excellent military relationship with Panama. The United States and Panama share a strong security partnership built on mutual respect and trust."
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said at a Monday briefing Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had made clear the aim was for "100% operational control of our Southern border."
Parnell said there were almost 10,000 troops at the border and the Pentagon was "surging a Stryker brigade combat team" there "to reinforce the land border as well."
He added: "But there's a sea component to this as well, and that's part of the mission of the USS Gravely, to secure those the water routes in defense of our southern border."
U.S. presidents have sent the military or the National Guard to the border region to help the Border Patrol during crises, but dispatching Navy personnel is unusual.
That's because the 1,954-mile border is mainly land through mountainous terrain and a thinning Rio Grande in Texas that at times is hard to navigate by boats.
The U.S Coast Guard typically patrols the outskirts of the Rio Grande in the gulf and outside of San Diego.
Critics say Trump is dispatching the military for show since border traffic is at record low and the Navy move is another performative action.
Previous missions have attempted to halt unauthorized border crossings or cartel movements of drug through isolated areas.
India Terror Attack: At Least 20 Tourists Killed
Apr 22, 2025
3 min
Illegal Alien Charged with Murdering Maryland Mother
Apr 22, 2025
1 min
Bessent: 'De-Escalation' in US-China Fight in 'Very Near Future'
Apr 22, 2025
1 min
RFK Jr. Announces Ban on Food Dye
Apr 22, 2025
1 min
Soros-Backed DA Won't Charge Tesla Vandal Who Caused $20k in Damages
Apr 22, 2025
2 min
Study: How Soros Empire Funds and Steers the Global Climate Change Agenda
Apr 22, 2025
3 min
Pope Francis’ Funeral: Saturday, 4am ET
Apr 22, 2025
3 min
Kristi Noem's Purse Stolen in DC: $3K, Passport, DHS Badge Taken
Apr 22, 2025
2 min
WH Responds to NPR Report on Search for Hegseth Replacement: ‘Fake News’
Apr 22, 2025
<1 min
WashPost: Elon Musk Set to Exit DOGE by May
Apr 22, 2025
1 min
WATCH: Trump and Melania Host White House Easter Egg Roll
Apr 22, 2025
3 min
Andrew Cuomo Criminally Referred to DOJ Over COVID Nursing Home Scandal
Apr 22, 2025
2 min
Vatican: Pope Francis Died of Stroke and Heart Failure
Apr 22, 2025
1 min
US Stocks, Dollar Slide — Trump Again Calls for Rate Cuts
Apr 22, 2025
2 min
Kanye West Reveals Past Incestuous Relationship with Male Cousin
Apr 22, 2025
1 min
Pope Francis Dies at 88
Apr 22, 2025
6 min
LIST: Top Cardinals Who Could Replace Pope Francis
Apr 22, 2025
3 min
What Happens Now That Pope Francis Has Died?
Apr 21, 2025
3 min
JD Vance Posts Emotional Tribute to Pope Francis
Apr 21, 2025
1 min
Klaus Schwab Steps Down as WEF Chair
Apr 22, 2025
1 min