U.S. Southern Border Security Enhancements with Additional Troops Deployed, Suspensions Of Visas Across 19 Countries
At least one country included in the suspension list has since suspended visa issuance for American citizens in response.
SOUTHWEST U.S. — The U.S. Department of State suspended visa issuance to nationals of nineteen countries effective June 9, 2025, citing national security concerns. At least one country included in the suspension list has since suspended visa issuance for American citizens in response.
This action, outlined in a Presidential Proclamation, fully suspended visas for Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, and partially suspended non-immigrant B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visas for Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Exceptions include diplomatic visas, adoptions, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), and cases deemed in the U.S. national interest by the Secretary of State or designee. Announced by the U.S. Department of State on June 7, 2025, this measure reflects a commitment to "protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process."
Earlier this month Army officials stated that the U.S. military is preparing to deploy 20,000 National Guard troops to fight illegal immigration.
Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-06-05/senate-southern-border-national-guard-18021583.html
Source - Stars and Stripes
On June 8, 2025, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) activated approximately 2,000 California Army National Guard soldiers under Title 10 status to protect federal property in the Los Angeles area. U.S. Army North established Task Force 51, led by a two-star general, to oversee these forces, with 300 soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team deployed to Los Angeles, Paramount, and Compton, California.
Additionally, 500 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, were placed on standby to augment Department of Defense (DoD) efforts if needed, bringing potential total personnel to 2,500.
On June 5, 2025, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) assumed southern border operations, relieving USS Gravely (DDG 107), as announced in a June 6 press release.
Departing Naval Station Mayport, USS Cole, under U.S. Fourth Fleet, collaborates with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and the "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 74 with MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters to enhance maritime security and interdict illegal activities in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America.
Also on June 5, 2025, the 759th Military Police Battalion occupied Camp Grip, a former Border Patrol outpost in rural Arizona, covering 100 miles (161 kilometers) of Sonoran Desert terrain. Employing the Ground-Based Operational Surveillance System (Expeditionary) (G-BOSS(E)) and Tactical Vehicle Radars, the battalion conducted week-long rotations for detection and monitoring, facing extreme heat and isolation.
On June 3, 2025, USS Sampson (DDG 102), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, deployed from Naval Base San Diego to the USNORTHCOM area of responsibility, relieving USS Charleston (LCS 18). Operating with a Coast Guard LEDET, it supports maritime domain awareness and counter-narcotics efforts, reinforcing naval presence.
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