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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Border Czar visit El Paso

Complete Coverage: News on the Border in El Paso

Update: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Border Czar Tom Homan arrived at Border Monument 3 in Sunland Park, New Mexico after 1 p.m. this afternoon.

Secretary Hegseth reiterated that the new Trump administration is bringing a new era at the southern border; a new era of determination and cooperation.

"The charge that the president has given us is 100% operational control of the southern border," Secretary Hegseth said.

"Tens of millions of people have poured across this border under Joe Biden's administration unchecked. We have no idea who they are. We have no idea where they're coming from. We have no idea what their intentions are," Secretary Hegseth added.

Border Czar Tom Homan also pointed out the Trump administration is a game changer for border security.

"We will finally succeed and have operational control of our southern border. With this president in charge and my partnership with Pete Hegseth, we're going to make this happen. And we will not fail," Border Czar said.

For Secretary Hegseth, Trump's deft ability to negotiate, they now have 10,000 Mexican troops that are set to be on the border soon and know this cooperation with Mexico will continue as well.

"The first thing we can control is our own border and when we continue to do that, as we laid as we outlined, I know the president is in constant dialog with the president of Mexico as well. I had an opportunity to talk to their head of defense and their head of Navy as well. Engagement and cooperation is an important part of the process. We want them (Mexico) to secure their own territory and their sovereignty, but we remain, we reserve the right. Should there not be an ability to police international and violent cartels to protect our own sovereignty as well," Secretary Hegseth said.

"We hope Mexico will step up, we expect they will. They want peace in their country also, and we look forward to working with them," Secretary Hegseth added.


Update: Hegseth posted on X that he had arrived in El Paso along with Border Czar Tom Homan.


EL PASO, TX (KVIA) — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is in El Paso today for his first official visit to the southern border. Hegseth is set to meet with officials from Joint Task Force North, headquartered at Fort Bliss, who are working to crack down on illegal immigration along the border. 

His visit comes as hundreds of U.S. troops are stationed in the region supporting Customs and Border Protection (CBP). "Whatever is needed at the border will be provided,” Hegseth said upon arriving at the Pentagon last week.  

In the last couple of weeks, the Pentagon has deployed additional surveillance aircraft, military helicopters and intelligence analysts to bolster CBP operations. The military has also been involved in mass deportation efforts, with multiple aircraft deporting hundreds of migrants from El Paso.

Hegseth has also confirmed that Guantanamo Bay is being prepared to house up to 30,000 criminal migrants, calling it the “perfect place” for secure detention. 

On Friday, the Department of Defense confirmed 111 soldiers of the New York National Guard's 206th Military Police Company are preparing to deploy to Guantanamo Bay. The soldiers, however, will conduct three weeks of additional training at Fort Bliss before heading there.

Additionally, the Pentagon announced it’s preparing to deploy around 1,000 additional troops to help border patrol agents. 

Hegseth said the Defense Department will “support the territorial integrity of the United States Southern Border.”

He said he will call upon reservists, national guardsmen and active duty personnel to help with the mission.

Stay with ABC-7 for the latest updates on Hegseth’s visit.

Article Topic Follows: On the Border

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Heriberto Perez

Heriberto Perez Lara reports for ABC-7 on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

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