Navy warship deployed on U.S.-Mexico border mission
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U.S. Navy soldiers on the deck of the USS Gravely Destroyer Ship in Gdynia, Poland, in 2022. Photo: Omar Marques/Getty Images
Navy warship USS Gravely is on a mission to strengthen security at the U.S.-Mexico border, Pentagon officials said.
Why it matters: The deployment of the guided-missile destroyer that last year was involved in shooting down Iran-backed Houthi rebels' ship attacks in the Middle East to a region the U.S. Coast Guard ordinarily covers marks an escalation in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown efforts at the border.
Driving the news: The USS Gravely departed Virginia's Naval Weapons Station Yorktown Saturday for the Navy's U.S. Northern Command Area of Responsibility, per a statement from the combatant command.
- This area encompasses the continental U.S., Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the surrounding water out to some 500 nautical miles.
- USNORTHCOM was named "operational lead for the employment of U.S. military forces" to carry out President Trump's border executive orders and the ship "brings maritime capabilities" in response to these and a national emergency declaration, it notes.
- The combatant command is filling "critical capabilities gaps in support" of the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection, according to the statement, which does not elaborate further on this.
Zoom in: The USS Gravely is participating as part of the Defense Department's response to President Trump's executive order on the border to "protect the United States' territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security," per a statement from Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander, U.S. Northern Command.
- It's contributing "to a coordinated and robust response to combating maritime related terrorism, weapons proliferation, transnational crime, piracy, environmental destruction, and illegal seaborne immigration," according to USNORTHCOM.
- Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command, added in a statement the deployment "marks a vital enhancement to our nation's border security framework."
What we're watching: The Coast Guard's specialized, deployable maritime law enforcement teams, called Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), "will be embarked aboard Gravel," per USNORTHCOM.
- These teams carry out missions including to counter piracy, military combat operations, stop undocumented immigrants, "military force protection, counter terrorism, homeland security, and humanitarian response," per the statement.
- Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot said in an emailed statement Monday the Defense Department "is fully prepared to support the President's national security priorities including those surrounding the Panama Canal."
- Trump has spoken of "reclaiming" the canal, but Ullyot said the Pentagon was "working with Panama on several exercises and events throughout the year."
- He added: "These exercises will involve troop movements in the region and will strengthen our excellent military relationship with Panama. The United States and Panama share a strong security partnership built on mutual respect and trust."
What they're saying: Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said at a Monday briefing Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had made clear the aim was for "100% operational control of our Southern border."
- Parnell said there were almost 10,000 troops at the border and the Pentagon was "surging a Stryker brigade combat team" there "to reinforce the land border as well."
- He added: "But there's a sea component to this as well, and that's part of the mission of the USS Gravely, to secure those the water routes in defense of our southern border."
Between the lines: U.S. presidents have sent the military or the National Guard to the border region to help the Border Patrol during crises, but dispatching Navy personnel is unusual.
- That's because the 1,954-mile border is mainly land through mountainous terrain and a thinning Rio Grande in Texas that at times is hard to navigate by boats.
- The U.S Coast Guard typically patrols the outskirts of the Rio Grande in the gulf and outside of San Diego.
- Critics say Trump is dispatching the military for show since border traffic is at record low and the Navy move is another performative action.
- Previous missions have attempted to halt unauthorized border crossings or cartel movements of drug through isolated areas.
Go deeper... Exclusive: How the White House ignored a judge's order to turn back deportation flights
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot and chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, and with more context.
