Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed during a visit to the southwestern border on Monday to use thousands of U.S. active-duty troops to help stem migrant crossings, a top priority for President Trump.

Fort Bliss officials confirmed that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was visiting the Borderland on Monday. His visit includes stops along the border in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, where presumably reserve and active-duty troops would be deployed to secure the U.

Although active-duty troops have been sent to the border by administrations of both parties, including the Biden administration, visits by Defense secretaries are uncommon. In 2018, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited troops at the border as the Trump administration considered another troop buildup there.