USS Sampson conducts a routine port call at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, Calif., in 2024. (U.S. Navy)
The Navy this week deployed a guided-missile destroyer to join U.S. Northern Command’s southern border operations meant to deter illegal crossing and drug trafficking, the service announced Wednesday.
The USS Sampson, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, left its homeport in San Diego on Tuesday to replace the USS Charleston, a littoral combat ship, in supporting the border operations that President Donald Trump has made a top priority in his second administration.
The Sampson will operate with a Coast Guard law enforcement detachment on board that officials have said brings specialized expertise in maritime interdiction to help address a range of challenges, from countering illegal activities to supporting humanitarian efforts and homeland security operations. The Charleston operated with a similar team on board during its tour, which lasted about two weeks.
The Navy has deployed ships — mostly destroyers — with the Coast Guard teams on board on both coasts near the U.S. southern border since March as part of Trump’s build-up of military and law enforcement forces along the U.S.-Mexico boundary.
“Sampson brings robust multi-mission capabilities to the task of defending U.S. sovereignty and supporting homeland defense operations in coordination with U.S. NORTHCOM,” the Navy said in a news release.
The deployment comes as the Pentagon has added more troops to its border operations, where U.S. forces — mostly soldiers and Marines — have provided Customs and Border Protection officials with a range of support, including reconnaissance, construction, logistics and air-lift capabilities.
The Defense Department last month approved the deployment of an additional 1,115 active-duty forces to support border operations. In all, there are now more than 10,000 military troops — including active-duty soldiers and Marines and National Guard forces — stationed along the border to assist Border Patrol. Those troops include infantry forces with Stryker combat vehicles, troops that fly drones and helicopters, logisticians and engineering forces.
Top Army leaders on Thursday also said the National Guard was preparing to add some 20,000 Guard forces to operations to bolster the Department of Homeland Security. That department requested those forces last month to aid in Trump’s immigration crackdown efforts. Top Army officials told senators on Capitol Hill that decisions about what role the National Guard troops would play in those operations or what units they would come from had not yet been made.
