LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Isabel Sosa,

LAREDO, Texas — On Monday, June 30, Mayor Dr. Victor D. Treviño joined U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar and held a collaborative press conference to inform the public about the upcoming deployment of a Stryker Battalion to this U.S.-Mexico border. The deployment, coordinated by the Department of Defense, is intended to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in border surveillance and security operations.

This press conference was convened to keep the public informed about recent developments shared by federal partners—most notably Border Patrol and the Department of Defense—regarding the activation of military personnel in a support role to enhance CBP’s detection capabilities. Before making the formal announcement, city leaders addressed recent concerns from the public regarding increased immigration enforcement activity in the region. They emphasized that the City of Laredo remains fully engaged with state and federal partners in both current and future operations.

As a city, Laredo continues to emphasize its role as a law-abiding community that collaborates closely with federal and state agencies. This cooperative approach is one of the key reasons Laredo is consistently ranked among the safest cities in both Texas and the United States, despite the complex dynamics of operating in a region where criminal organizations are known to be active.

Mayor Dr. Victor D. Treviño stated, “As the White House and the Department of Homeland Security have issued heightened alerts throughout the country, the City of Laredo continues to support federal and state activities that ensure the security and safety of our community, which continues to be one of the safest communities in the United States.

As the largest port of entry in the Western Hemisphere, we remain in constant communication with our agency partners to ensure proper security awareness protocols are in place and to support the continued fluidity of international commerce. Aside from the existing collaboration, we will keep an open channel of communication with the National Guard and any deployed military assets that will assist Customs and Border Patrol in enhancing their detection capabilities. There is no specific threat at this time, and this is solely to provide support as needed. We will keep the community updated with any changes, as information is shared with the City.”

Congressman Henry Cuellar emphasized ongoing federal support:

“Today, the mayor and I provided an update on the upcoming arrival of Stryker units in Laredo. I highlighted where these units will be deployed and how their presence will enhance logistical support and operational capability to help Border Patrol agents perform their duties more safely and effectively. I will continue working closely with local leaders, Border Patrol, and the Department of Defense to support our community as this process moves forward.”

Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Muñoz also shared his thoughts regarding this announcement and the value of the support from the Department of Defense:

“The Department of Defense (DoD) will deploy Stryker armored vehicles to assist Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in detecting and monitoring activity to enhance security at the U.S. southern border. Securing our border is the top priority, and our agents will work closely with DoD to deter illegal crossings. The vehicles’ long-range optic sensors and high mobility will help Border Patrol maintain operational control in our region. This type of support has already led to a significant decrease in successful illegal crossings and is discouraging further attempts.”

This deployment is part of a national initiative to increase security at key points along the southern border. The Department of Defense began coordinating Stryker vehicle deployments earlier this year to enhance CBP’s surveillance capabilities in high-traffic areas. These vehicles, equipped with advanced sensors and mobility features, have already proven effective in reducing unlawful border crossings in other parts of Texas.