Deployment of First Wave of 10,000 Mexican National Guard Troops Along Border
José Luis Santos Iza, a Mexican National Guard commander in Ciudad Juarez, emphasized during a media briefing that there will be continuous surveillance on the border.
Beginning on Wednesday, the first group of 10,000 Mexican National Guard troops started their deployment along the border between Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. This action was taken by President Claudia Sheinbaum in response to President Donald Trump’s threat to implement 25 percent tariffs.
Sheinbaum announced on Feb. 3 that approximately 10,000 National Guard troops would be deployed to the border with the United States to combat the trafficking of narcotics, particularly fentanyl.
According to the White House, last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized over 21,000 pounds of fentanyl at the borders, enough to cause the deaths of more than 4 billion people. Fentanyl is responsible for around 75,000 deaths annually in the United States.
The Mexican government disclosed that the largest deployment would consist of 1,949 National Guard troops in Tijuana, with an additional 1,650 troops stationed in Juárez.
More than 100 Mexican National Guard troops were observed boarding a flight from Merida to Juárez on Feb. 4. Additional units were expected to be redeployed from Cancún and Campeche, with others traveling north by road.
Sheinbaum heeded President Trump’s warnings and agreed to postpone the tariffs for a month. In return, she sent the Mexican National Guard to prevent the trafficking of fentanyl by criminal organizations like the Sinaloa cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and the Northeast cartel.
Illegal drug trafficking is a major concern, as cartels often construct tunnels under the border to smuggle drugs. In one incident in August 2019, CBP discovered the longest tunnel ever, stretching over three-quarters of a mile from Tijuana to the San Diego area.
Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female leader, took office after winning the presidential election and has made significant changes in her approach following the collaboration with Trump to combat drug trafficking across the border.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed gratitude to the Mexican government for its prompt action to address the issue of illegal immigration during his visit to Latin America. He emphasized the importance of collaborating with vetted units to identify and intercept fentanyl shipments that are concealed among other cargo or luggage.
The deployment of Mexican National Guard troops signifies a strong effort to counter drug trafficking, with a focus on preventing the smuggling of fentanyl from Mexico into the United States.
