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Photos of the US troop deployment at new militarized zones on the border with Mexico
A Stryker combat vehicle sits atop a hill overlooking the U.S.-Mexico border fence in Sunland Park, N.M., Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
NOGALES, Ariz. (AP) — U.S. troops from all branches of the military are sharing command stations and vehicles with civilian immigration authorities at the U.S. border with Mexico under an emergency declaration from President Donald Trump. Army Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann, who is leading 7,600 troops and an assortment of helicopters and drones, says the military has been freed from menial work to help apprehend immigrants, protect newly designated militarized turf and disrupt smuggling cartels. In some cases those deployed are immigrants themselves.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
U.S. Army Sgt. Salvador Hernandez stands beside Stryker combat vehicles while watching over the U.S.-Mexico border fence from a hilltop in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S. Army Sgt. Salvador Hernandez stands beside Stryker combat vehicles while watching over the U.S.-Mexico border fence from a hilltop in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S. military personnel are reflected on a map as they listen to Jose Luis Maheda during a briefing at the U.S. Border Patrol station in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S. military personnel are reflected on a map as they listen to Jose Luis Maheda during a briefing at the U.S. Border Patrol station in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A view from inside a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle shows the U.S.-Mexico border fence at dawn in Sunland Park, N.M., Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A view from inside a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle shows the U.S.-Mexico border fence at dawn in Sunland Park, N.M., Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S. U.S. Army Spc. Jerimiah Starcher exits a Stryker combat vehicle after demonstrating the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S. U.S. Army Spc. Jerimiah Starcher exits a Stryker combat vehicle after demonstrating the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle travels along a trail beneath storm clouds near the U.S.-Mexico border fence, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Nogales, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle travels along a trail beneath storm clouds near the U.S.-Mexico border fence, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Nogales, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S Army Sgt. Brenden Richards monitors the area while standing next to a Stryker combat vehicle Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Sunland Park, N.M. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S Army Sgt. Brenden Richards monitors the area while standing next to a Stryker combat vehicle Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Sunland Park, N.M. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Barriers form part of the U.S.-Mexico border fence as they run along mountainous terrain overlooking Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Sunland Park, N.M. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Barriers form part of the U.S.-Mexico border fence as they run along mountainous terrain overlooking Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Sunland Park, N.M. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two U.S. Army soldiers stand between Stryker combat vehicles as they watch over the U.S.-Mexico border fence from a hilltop in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two U.S. Army soldiers stand between Stryker combat vehicles as they watch over the U.S.-Mexico border fence from a hilltop in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle is parked on a ridge overlooking the U.S.-Mexico border and Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez in Sunland Park, N.M., Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle is parked on a ridge overlooking the U.S.-Mexico border and Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez in Sunland Park, N.M., Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A cartel shrine in Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez, symbolizing territorial control, is visible through the U.S.-Mexico border fence from Sunland Park, N.M., Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A cartel shrine in Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez, symbolizing territorial control, is visible through the U.S.-Mexico border fence from Sunland Park, N.M., Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S. Army Spc. Jerimiah Starcher demonstrates the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System on a Stryker combat vehicle in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
U.S. Army Spc. Jerimiah Starcher demonstrates the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System on a Stryker combat vehicle in Nogales, Ariz., Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Hong is a Los Angeles–based staff photojournalist with The Associated Press. His work spans breaking news, social issues, sports, and entertainment, with assignments that have taken him across the U.S. and abroad. He has covered multiple presidential elections, the Olympic Games, and many of the major news events of recent years.