The Department of Defense announced on March 1 that U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team to deploy to the southern border with Mexico.

The US Defense Department announced the reinforcements on March 1, 2025.

Additional engineering, reconnaissance, and communications units are also expected to join the deployment in the coming weeks.

“These forces will arrive in the coming weeks, and their deployment underscores the Department’s unwavering dedication to working alongside the Department of Homeland Security to secure our southern border and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States under President Trump’s leadership,” the Pentagon stated.

The Washington Post, citing U.S. officials, reported the deployment of the Mountain Warrior brigade, though the exact location along the border remains unclear.

In addition, they are to be joined by engineering, reconnaissance, and communications units.

Within a few weeks, the US battle group is to be relocated to the border with Mexico, where exactly it will be deployed is currently unknown.

In January, the Pentagon announced plans to send up to 1,500 troops to the border, followed by the deployment of 500 Marines later that month to support border patrol operations. The Marines were transported using V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

Even before these reinforcements, about 2,500 National Guard troops and U.S. reservists were stationed at the border.

Their mission has been marked by difficulties, with at least 17 Texas National Guard soldiers dying during Operation Lone Star over the past three years.

In early February, as part of an agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico committed to deploying 10,000 soldiers to combat illegal migration and drug trafficking.

However, tensions escalated on March 1 when U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly warned Mexican officials of possible military action if the government failed to crack down on drug cartels.

The statement strained bilateral relations, raising concerns over U.S. threats to Mexico’s territorial sovereignty.