Pentagon Deploys Navy Warship to Southern Border in Line with Trump Order
Sarah Johnson
March 18, 2025
Brief
The Pentagon deploys USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, to the southern U.S. border to combat illegal immigration and drug smuggling amid rising maritime security challenges.
The Pentagon has deployed the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, to the southern U.S. border as part of a broader effort to combat illegal immigration and drug smuggling. This move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s executive orders focused on securing the border. The destroyer departed from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown in Virginia over the weekend, according to Navy officials.
"Gravely’s sea-going capacity improves our ability to protect the United States’ territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security," said Gen. Gregory Guillot of U.S. Northern Command. The ship will operate in the Gulf of America, targeting maritime drug smuggling operations, as confirmed by Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich during a press briefing.
While the deployment is framed as enhancing U.S. sovereignty, it also highlights the Pentagon's increasing role in addressing transnational issues like maritime terrorism, piracy, environmental destruction, and illegal immigration. USS Gravely has prior experience intercepting missiles launched by Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea, proving its versatility in high-stakes operations.
"This deployment fills critical capability gaps and supports the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection," Navy officials added, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to border security.
Interestingly, Coast Guard data shows a spike in migrant boat encounters near San Diego—about 200 incidents in the last 90 days. This uptick is attributed to tighter land border security measures under Trump’s administration. Coast Guard District 11 Capt. Jason Hagen noted that smugglers have shifted their operations to maritime routes, creating new challenges.
Hagen also flagged the presence of foreign nationals from adversary countries among intercepted migrants, calling it a national security concern. "It’s not just economic migrants anymore; we’re seeing individuals from countries like China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan," he said.
With heightened maritime activity and the deployment of a warship, the U.S. seems to be doubling down on its border control efforts. Whether this strategy will effectively address both migration and security concerns remains to be seen.
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Editor's Comments
Deploying a Navy destroyer to the border is a bold, almost cinematic move. It’s like the Pentagon said, 'Let’s bring the big guns—literally!' While it’s hard to argue against the importance of national security, I can’t help but wonder if this is a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. Are we really at the point where smugglers and migrants require warship-level intervention? Or is this more of a political statement dressed up as security strategy?
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