Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to the southern border with Mexico on Monday, reinforcing President Trump's warning that the military will help with stopping illegal border crossings and removing unlawful aliens.

Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, joined Hegseth on his first official trip as head of the military. Hegseth met with troops in Fort Bliss to observe their efforts to secure the border.

"Looking forward to meeting our great warriors and seeing the hard work they are doing securing our southern border. We will continue to deliver on this vital mission," Hegseth wrote on X.

Hegseth's first trip

Hegseth's decision to visit the border before traveling abroad is a radical shift from the last administration, which focused on America's foreign commitments, especially to Ukraine, as a historic influx of people - including dangerous criminals - poured into America's interior.

President Trump has tasked the military with shoring up America's domestic security, and Hegseth has made it clear he is on the same page as the commander-in-chief, declaring, "BORDER SECURITY IS NATIONAL SECURITY" on X.

"POTUS wants 100% operational control of the border—and we will deliver," he wrote ahead of his border visit Monday.

Hegseth shared a series of updates on his X account, including a video of him touching down in El Paso, Texas, and greeting troops there.

"It was an honor to meet the troops engaged in securing our southern border," he wrote in another post. "They are the backbone of our nation’s security. Their dedication to service and unequaled courage safeguard the freedoms we hold dear. We are grateful for all you and your family's sacrifice."

Trump militarizes the border

Since Trump's inauguration on January 20, the president has moved aggressively to crack down on mass immigration, using the military to assist with his ambitious goal of carrying out the largest deportation in U.S. history.

Trump has deployed military planes to assist with removals, while ordering the Pentagon to use Guantanamo Bay as a holding facility for 30,000 of the most dangerous aliens.

"Guantanamo Bay is a perfect transit point to temporarily house the worst of the worst until we move them back to their home countries, who, as President Trump has made it very clear, better be prepared to take them robustly and soon," Hegseth told Fox and Friends.

Illegal crossings have sharply fallen since Trump declared a national emergency at the border on his first day, deploying 1,500 active-duty troops to support Border Patrol in El Paso and San Diego, California.

An additional 1,000 troops will soon be deployed, with 500 Marines headed to Guantanamo Bay and 500 light troops from the 10th Mountain Division destined for the border.

President Trump has also sought to use America's massive economic power to advance his immigration agenda. Mexico agreed to send 10,000 troops to help with the border on Monday as Trump agreed to pause sweeping tariffs on Mexican imports.