Trump’s Border Crackdown Expands As Navy Ship Moves To Secure US Waters
The Trump administration has ordered the deployment of the USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, to assist in border enforcement efforts along U.S. territorial waters. The decision comes amid reports of increased smuggling operations by sea, as criminal networks shift tactics in response to heightened land border security.
Over the weekend, the USS Gravely set sail from Virginia, carrying a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) to support interdiction missions. The ship is equipped to track and intercept vessels attempting to evade detection along the U.S.-Mexico maritime border.
We are finally stopping this DESTRUCTIVE INVASION ON OUR BORDER:
– Trump just deployed a Navy Destroyer Ship to the Border to deter illegals from crossing
– DHS announced SEVEN new miles of border wall in ArizonaIllegal entries HAVE GONE DOWN BY 95%! pic.twitter.com/M7SbrJMn9X
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) March 17, 2025
General Gregory Guillot, who oversees U.S. Northern Command, emphasized the ship’s role in maintaining national security. “Illegal maritime crossings are on the rise, and this deployment enhances our ability to secure the southern approach,” he stated.
Guided Missile Destroyer USS Gravely heads to AMERICA'S southern border on 'Presidential executive order' — NorthCom
Gravely previously shot down Houthi cruise missile in Red Sea in 'closest encounter' yet from Yemeni attack
Is Trump dead serious on illegals? pic.twitter.com/V45GYOsIF5
— DocReQ (@DocReQIsBack) March 16, 2025
Customs and Border Protection officials have noted a rise in organized smuggling rings utilizing small boats to transport migrants and contraband. Officials report that many intercepted vessels carry foreign nationals from countries outside Latin America, adding to concerns over potential security risks.
The USS Gravely’s deployment follows its recent mission in the Middle East, where it played a key role in countering Houthi missile threats. Now, its focus will be on preventing unauthorized maritime entries, assisting the Coast Guard and Homeland Security in deterring criminal activity.
🚨NEW: Pentagon deploys Navy destroyer to secure Southern Border.
The USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer recently deployed to the Middle East, departed Saturday to secure the U.S. southern border.
I can’t imagine why.
Tick-tock cartels.
— Walter Curt (@WCdispatch_) March 17, 2025
The Pentagon’s move reflects a broader strategy to extend border security beyond land-based enforcement. While Coast Guard cutters have long patrolled U.S. waters, the inclusion of a Navy destroyer underscores the administration’s commitment to tackling illegal migration and smuggling from every angle.
Officials have yet to confirm the duration of the USS Gravely’s mission, but the destroyer’s presence is expected to reinforce the administration’s efforts to combat unauthorized crossings and criminal operations in U.S. waters.