For over a year, around 9,000 active-duty troops have been stationed along the nearly 2,000-mile southwest border. Their mission is to address illegal migration and combat smugglers and drug cartels.

This deployment continues, costing tens of millions of dollars weekly. The Trump administration had aimed to significantly reduce illegal crossings, and largely succeeded in meeting this target months ago.

Military patrols work in collaboration with Customs and Border Protection and the Mexican military. This cooperation has forced Mexican cartels and smugglers into more isolated mountainous locations to escape detection.

However, U.S. officials report an increase in threats to American troops. Some members of Congress have raised concerns about the appropriateness of using active-duty troops for border missions. They suggest these troops could instead be preparing for potential deployments to regions like Eastern Europe, the Middle East, or the Indo-Pacific.

Lawmakers and analysts worry that the border deployment may distract from essential training, consume resources, and compromise military readiness.