CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Mexico — A significant deployment of Mexican National Guard and Army personnel has commenced along the Mexico-US border, following President Trump’s tariff threats. This move involves the initial wave of the 10,000 troops dispatched to enhance border security.
Armed National Guard members conducted patrols and inspections in areas near Ciudad Juárez, removing makeshift ladders and ropes possibly intended for illegal border crossings. Similar patrols were reported in other border regions, including Tijuana.
This action comes after President Trump announced a delay in imposing high tariffs on Mexico for at least a month. In reaction, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum committed to deploying the National Guard to enforce border security and combat fentanyl trafficking.
Despite a notable decrease in migration levels and fentanyl-related overdoses over the past year, Trump has declared an emergency at the border. In a reciprocal agreement, the U.S. has pledged to take stricter measures against arms trafficking into Mexico, aimed at reducing cartel violence.
The first waves of the National Guard arrived in border cities via government flights, with soldiers confirming their participation in the new security operations.
“There will be permanent surveillance on the border,” stated José Luis Santos Iza, a leader of the National Guard. He emphasized that the operation’s main goal is to curtail drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, flowing from Mexico into the United States.
Ciudad Juárez is projected to receive approximately 1,650 troops, making it one of the highest concentrations of border reinforcements, second only to Tijuana, which will receive nearly 1,949 troops.
During a recent diplomatic visit to Latin America, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed gratitude to the Mexican government for their cooperation in this deployment, highlighting the ongoing discussions regarding migration issues.
Observers view the negotiations by President Sheinbaum as a strategic political maneuver, as many were skeptical of her ability to manage relations with the Trump administration effectively, especially compared to her predecessor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
