Southern Border: Interagency Border Security Efforts Continue to Expand

U.S. military personnel assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border continue supporting border security operations in southern New Mexico and Arizona through surveillance missions, infrastructure support, and the removal of makeshift climbing aids staged near the border barrier.

In images released this week, soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border were shown removing ladders and other improvised climbing devices near Bisbee, Arizona. According to the task force, the ladders are commonly staged near the barrier wall to support illegal crossings and other unlawful activity.

Personnel from the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, assigned to the Annihilator Company Team, were also shown conducting surveillance operations using long-range monitoring systems and binoculars near the border corridor. Officials said the ongoing mission includes monitoring cartel scout activity, maintaining readiness against drone threats, and coordinating communications with United States Customs and Border Protection.

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Meanwhile, additional border support operations recently took place in southern New Mexico near Deming and Kilmer Peak.

According to Joint Task Force-Southern Border, soldiers assigned to Task Force Iron Mule used a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter to transport equipment and construction materials to a remote mountaintop location where a new solar- and gas-powered radio tower was installed to improve communications capabilities in rugged border terrain.

Military officials said the communications upgrade is intended to enhance coordination and radio coverage for Border Patrol personnel operating in remote areas along the southern border.

The operations were conducted in coordination with United States Northern Command, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection as part of continuing interagency border security efforts across the Southwest.