U.S. Soldiers, assigned to 569th Combat Engineer Company, disembark from a U.S. Airforce C-130 at Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, Texas, Jan. 26, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border with additional military forces. This initial deployment of 1,500 active-duty personnel brings the total military Title 10 forces along the border to nearly 4,000 personnel. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Reece Newton)

Fort Bliss supports southern border mission

Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office

FORT BLISS, Texas - Fort Bliss began providing additional support to the southern border mission in response to the national emergency declared by the President of the United States.

As a mobilization force generation installation and the location of the Joint Task Force North headquarters, Fort Bliss is supporting U.S. Northern Command and JTF-North with joint reception, staging, onward movement, and integration, a process that prepares military personnel, equipment and materials to assume their mission. This process consists of providing a robust training program to ensure service members are ready to support the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in securing the southern border.

The installation received approximately 750 active-duty forces that are part of the 1,500 U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps deploying to the Southern Border that will augment the current 2500 service members that are already deployed to the southern border mission.

“As the largest mobilization force generation installation in the Army, we are continuously supporting mobilization and demobilization operations in support of Department of Defense missions worldwide,” said Col. Brendan Gallagher, the Fort Bliss Garrison Commander. “The Southern Border mission is something we have been supporting here at Fort Bliss for over five years, and we will continue to support JTF-North with that mission until we are directed otherwise.”

Once complete with their training, the forces will move from Fort Bliss to locations along the southern border where they will support enhanced detection and monitoring efforts, while repairing and emplacing physical barriers. 

Approximately 100 soldiers of the 202nd Military Police Company from Fort Bliss will join the augmentation of military active-duty forces and will operate under the direction of USNORTHCOM and JTF-North.

“I'm incredibly proud of our Soldiers, whose readiness, competence, character and professionalism exemplify the very best of our Army,” said Lt. Col. Samantha Hoxha, commander of the 93rd Military Police Battalion. “Their ability to rapidly deploy and execute this critical mission reflects their unwavering commitment to defending our nation's interests and protecting its borders with honor and distinction.”

Additionally, Biggs Army Airfield is being utilized to support the Department of Homeland Security in augmenting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in deportation flight efforts. Specifically, the Department of Defense is supporting ICE by providing military airlift for this mission.

For more information regarding the support to the southern border contact U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs at (719) 554-6889 or email at n-ncpa.omb@mail.mil.

For more information regarding the military airlifts contact U.S. Transportation Command at transcom-pa@mail.mil.

For information regarding the deportation flights contact the Department of Homeland Security at 202-282-8010 or email mediainquiry@hq.dhs.gov.