Hegseth traveled with White House border czar Tom Homan to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, to meet with troops securing the southern border.

He received briefings from U.S. Northern Command and NORAD on homeland defense and border security.

Hegseth pledged “100 percent operational control of the border” and said all necessary Defense Department assets were available for expulsion and detention.

Since beginning his second term, Trump has declared a national emergency at the border and ordered military involvement in immigration enforcement.

Trump deployed 1,500 active-duty troops to assist with logistics and fencing, and Hegseth approved an additional 500, bringing the total force to 4,500, The Hill has reported.

Hegseth stated that the increased military presence will allow overwhelmed Border Patrol agents to combat what he called an “invasion.”

Written by B.C. Begley