Mexico Sends First Batch of 10,000 National Guard Troops to US Border Following Trump’s Tariff Warning

In Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, a convoy of Mexican National Guard and Army vehicles traveled along the border with El Paso, Texas, in response to President Trump’s threat of imposing tariffs. This deployment of 10,000 troops to the northern border is part of Mexico’s strategy.

Masked and armed National Guard members were observed inspecting the area near the border fence in Ciudad Juárez, discovering hidden ladders and ropes. Meanwhile, patrols were active in Tijuana, as part of the initiative to strengthen border security.

This surge in military presence follows a tense period sparked by Trump’s tariff threats on Mexico. After negotiations, a temporary agreement was reached, leading to Mexico’s commitment to deploying the National Guard to enhance border protection and counter fentanyl trafficking.

Trump has declared an emergency on the border despite migration levels and fentanyl overdoses significantly dipping over the past year. The U.S. said it would, in turn, do more to stop American guns from being trafficked into Mexico to fuel cartel violence, which has rippled to other parts of the country as criminal groups fight to control the lucrative migrant smuggling industry.

On Tuesday, the first of those forces arrived in border cities, climbing out of government planes. Guard members in the Wednesday patrol confirmed that they were part of the new force.

“There will be permanent surveillance on the border,” José Luis Santos Iza, one of the National Guard leaders heading off the deployment in the city, told media upon the arrival of the first set of soldiers. “This operation is primarily to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, mainly fentanyl.”

At least 1,650 troops were expected to be sent to Ciudad Juárez, according to government figures, making it one of the biggest receivers of border reinforcements in the country, second only to Tijuana, where 1,949 are slated to be sent.

During U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip through Latin America – where migration was at the top of the agenda – the top American diplomat thanked the Mexican government for the forces, according to a statement by the Mexican government.

The negotiation by Sheinbaum was viewed by observers as a bit of shrewd political maneuvering by the newly elected Mexican leader. Many had previously cast doubt that she’d be able to navigate Trump’s presidency as effectively as her predecessor and ally, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.