Navy Deploys Second Destroyer in Less Than a Month to Patrol The Southern Border

The U.S. Navy deployed a guided-missile destroyer to patrol the southern border region on Friday as it beefs up military assets in the area.

The USS Stockdale (DDG-106) departed Naval Base San Diego with a Coast Guard law enforcement detachment onboard, becoming the second such deployment in less than a month after the USS Gravely in mid-March.

The patrol is part of a broader strategy led by U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) to integrate military capabilities into border security operations. An official Navy statement said Stockdale will operate as part of a "coordinated, multi-domain strategy" intended to "protect the United States' territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security." It added that:

"Stockdale will continue operations with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET). These Coast Guard teams bring specialized expertise in maritime interdiction, enabling the ship to address a range of challenges, from countering illegal activities to supporting humanitarian efforts and homeland security operations"

Admiral Daryl Caudle, Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces, explained that such missions would involve monitoring key maritime corridors between the U.S. and Mexico, particularly near San Diego and the Gulf of Mexico.

The USS Gravely (DDG-107) was deployed back in March from Norfolk, Virginia. The vessel, previously engaged in combat operations in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, was similarly tasked with supporting border-related missions under the direction of USNORTHCOM. General Gregory Guillot, the command's chief, said at the time that the Gravely's deployment would address "critical capabilities gaps in support" of the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.

While destroyers have historically operated in conflict zones abroad, their presence in domestic border operations have been rare. Officials have not stated whether the deployment aims to supplement limited Coast Guard resources or serve as a deterrent to smuggling and unauthorized maritime crossings.

However, the shift aligns with recent directives from President Donald Trump to expand the military's role in immigration enforcement. On Friday, Trump signed a memorandum authorizing the military to occupy portions of federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The directive allows the Defense Department to take jurisdiction over the Roosevelt Reservation—excluding Native American lands—and could eventually result in direct military-migrant encounters. The administration has not ruled out further deployments or additional use of executive powers.