Along the Texas Border, US Troops Secure the Frontier

by Jose Campos

SIERRA BLANCA, Texas – The arid landscape outside Sierra Blanca has long been a favored corridor for human smuggling and narcotics trafficking, exploited by organized criminal networks. Now, with U.S. troops in the field, the human part of the landscape has changed.

Under orders from U.S. Northern Command, the Joint Task Force – Southern Border (JTF-SB) has taken charge of a full-scale, agile operation designed to dominate the border through land, air, and surveillance assets. Their mission is to curb illegal crossings and transnational threats.

READ MORE: On the Line: US Soldiers Patrol the Southern Border with Stryker Power

The deployment of active-duty soldiers in this volatile region represents a significant shift in enforcement strategy. The JTF-SB’s mission is clear: seal the border, and ensure that criminal elements no longer call the shots. For those attempting to exploit the border, the presence of armed U.S. Infantry sends a clear signal.

Soldiers from 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment are part of that effort. The platoon on March 31 conducted a dismounted squad patrol along the rugged borderlands, one of many.

For the soldiers walking the sunbaked trails of Sierra Blanca, this is no political debate – it’s a mission.

Jose Campos covers security for Soldier of Fortune.