Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved orders on Friday to further militarize the U.S. southern border with Mexico, officials said.

Roughly 3,000 more active-duty troops will deploy to the southern border, the Pentagon announced Saturday, expanding a major military operation to curb illegal immigration — a central priority of the Trump administration.

The Pentagon is increasing its defense measures at the southern border, ordering nearly 3,000 soldiers to the area who will arrive in the coming weeks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday ordered a Stryker Brigade Combat Team,