Donald Trump Sends Hundreds of Troops to Texas National Park

The Trump administration deployed hundreds of U.S. troops and armored vehicles to Big Bend National Park in West Texas.

Why It Matters

The move, part of a wider crackdown on illegal immigration, marks a significant military mobilizations along the United States-Mexico border. With additional forces on the way, the administration signals its commitment to enforcing stricter border security measures and tightening control over the Southern border. President Donald Trump vowed to secure the border and was elected based on a promise of mass deportations.

What To Know

Troop deployment to West Texas began on March 13, with 200 soldiers from the Army's 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, already on the ground. Army officials said that the number is expected to grow to 500 in the coming weeks. The military did not disclose how many Stryker armored combat vehicles are involved, but these eight-wheeled transports can carry up to 11 troops and reach speeds of 60 miles per hour, according to the U.S. military.

Alongside combat vehicles, the deployment will include Humvee-style tactical vehicles, fuel trucks, and other support equipment, officials said. The Stryker vehicles, designed for maneuverability in the region's rugged terrain, could also be equipped with weapons, according to Major Jared Stefani.

Stefani, who is commanding the battalion deployed to Big Bend, said that, while troops will not be arresting individuals suspected of immigration violations, they will provide support to federal agents.

Under a separate agreement between Texas and the Trump administration, some National Guard soldiers have recently been deputized to carry out immigration arrests.

The move sparked outrage from the Sierra Club, an environmental organization, which condemned it as a waste of taxpayer dollars and a political stunt.

The Border Patrol's Big Bend Sector experiences significantly fewer border crossings compared to other areas along the U.S.-Mexico border. In February, Customs and Border Protection reported approximately 165 migrant encounters in Big Bend, compared to 1,679 in Laredo and 2,623 in El Paso during the same period. That month, apprehensions of undocumented immigrants across the southern border reached their lowest levels in decades.

Big Bend, one of the largest national parks in the country, is also the most visited in Texas, attracting 561,458 visitors last year, according to the National Park Service.

What People Are Saying

Border Patrol spokesman Claudio Herrera-Baeza said: "This sends a clear and unequivocal message to the criminal organizations operating on either side of the border that we will not tolerate illegal incursions or illicit activities along our border.

"These vehicles have incredible detection technology that the Border Patrol will incorporate into its mission of safeguarding our borders."

Chief Patrol Agent Lloyd M. Easterling said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "STRYKER Deployed! Great to have #DoD boots on the ground alongside #USBP #BigBend Sector agents! Their support in this rugged terrain is a game-changer for border security & operations. Strength in partnership—stronger together!"

Major Jared Stefani, who is leading the Big Bend-area Army battalion, said at a press conference: "We will not be actively on patrols.

"We'll be at detection and monitoring sites, to provide that information to Border Patrol, to then go out and do their law enforcement function."

Sherman Neal II, deputy director of the Sierra Club Military Outdoors campaign, and United States Marine Corps veteran, said: "Demonstrations over the past several weeks at our parks have shown that hate has no place in our parks. Gateway communities to our national parks understand their economic viability isn't tied to the chilling effects of militarization, but nested in becoming more inclusive communities for all of us. At a time where park visitation is at an all-time high and apprehension at the border at an all-time low, we must resist the administration's attempts to exploit our vulnerable populations by manufacturing crises rooted in xenophobia and disinformation."

What Happens Next

The military presence is expected to ramp up as the administration looks to secure the southern border.