First on FOX: A top conservative group is offering a roadmap for how President Donald Trump can effectively deploy the military to secure the southern border, and for such use It claims that there is “substantive historical precedent” for this.
“A wide range and diverse range of options and legal authorities are available to the second Trump administration to use U.S. military resources and capabilities to ensure the integrity of the border with Mexico,” it says. “Furthermore, there is considerable historical precedent for an active U.S. military role in border security and managing transition crises.”
The report, “How the President Uses the U.S. Military to Confront Catastrophic Threats at the Mexico-Mexico Border,” notes the “unchecked growth” of Mexican cartels, and that illegal immigration and drugs are “deepening and accelerating.” ” claims to have done so. Destabilizing threats to the United States
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This division shows a southern border wall and border troops. (Getty Images)
At the same time, it claims there has been a “rapid deterioration” in the US-Mexico security cooperation and Mexico's own anti-carbon operations.
This is a view shared by the new Trump administration. Trump issued an executive order on Day 1 to deploy troops to the border as part of a number of efforts to secure the southern border and crack down on illegal immigration.
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Authors Robert Greenway, Andrés Martínez Fernández, and Wilson Bieber argue for a number of follow-up measures to combat the cartel threat and what they see as a “reluctant” Mexican government. .
“The first steps on this front will include substantially increasing the border security capabilities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), increasing restrictions on formal and unofficial border crossings, increasing U.S. law enforcement efforts, “This must consist of measures such as targeting financial flows sanctioned by cartel-bound and corrupt Mexican officials,” they wrote.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force 1 for a trip to North Carolina and California on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The report emphasized the need for adequate funding from Congress and planning from the agency to prevent it from impacting other missions. It highlighted the potential for military equipment for immigration purposes, including deportation.
“When it comes to large-scale illegal detention and deportation, some of the most unused but most impactful resources include U.S. military resources that can assist in the detention and repatriation of high-risk or redundant aliens. Includes transportation vehicles and facilities around the world – countries of origin.
As for direct military action against cartels, the author says it should be a “last resort” and joint military action, with Mexican coordination being the ideal situation.
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“However, in the appropriate context, unilateral U.S. military action could be employed to disrupt cartel activities and prevent prompt cooperation from a restive Mexican government.” Masu.
Mexico insists it is unlikely to change its stance with the election of President Claudia Sheinbaum in response to what the authors claim is a dramatically escalating threat from cartels.
“Today, drug cartels are Mexico's fifth largest employer, with 160,000 to 185,000 members,” they write. “Cartels are also equipped with military-grade weapons, including anti-aircraft weapons and armored vehicles, while increasingly employing advanced technology such as drones and signal-jamming systems.”
The report also calls for support for border wall construction, supplementing overstretched border patrols, and the use of intelligence and surveillance methods to detect cross-border activity, as well as on U.S. military installations. It also touts other uses for the military, such as immigration detention.
People are seen boarding US military aircraft. The White House announced on Friday that 'deportation flights have begun' in the US (White House)
The report comes after a surge of activity from the administration, including the deployment of military to the border, to address threats to the border and limit illegal immigration.
On Thursday evening, troops began arriving in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, delivering 1,000 U.S. Army personnel and 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton, California.
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“This represents a 60% increase in active ground forces since President Trump was sworn in on Monday,” Defense Secretary Robert Sarres, who commanded at the time, said in a statement late Wednesday.
2,500 U.S. service members already stationed there southern border.
Fox News' Christina Shaw contributed to this report.
