The chief of San Diego’s Border Patrol has acknowledged that President Donald J. Trump’s move to send the military to support border control efforts has been a “force multiplier” and is already showing results. Jeffrey Stalnaker, acting Chief Patrol Agent for the San Diego Sector, noted that military personnel presence had enhanced the work of border agents.
The operation sees Army, Marines, and Navy service members supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. Recent CBP data indicates that border apprehensions in February reached levels not seen since 2000, with 30,000 encounters recorded. This contrasts sharply with the over 130,000 encounters reported in the same month in 2023 and 2024.
Last month, Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks reported that illegal crossings had dropped as much as 94 percent under the current Trump administration.
Stalnaker attributes these developments to the military presence, which allows for swift agent deployment to law enforcement events. Specifically, Task Force Sapper, comprising nearly 500 Marines, has focused on fortifying existing barriers with additional protection, including strategically placing razor wire.
The Marines, supported by companies of Army engineers and military police from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, are engaged in surveillance and detection along stretches of the border. While not directly intervening in crossings, these troops serve as a vital observational network, freeing CBP agents to prioritize response and apprehension efforts.
