Local law enforcement responds to the site of the crash. Image Credit: New York Post
On April 15, 2025, two U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton lost their lives, and a third was critically injured, in a vehicle accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The incident occurred around 8:50 a.m. MDT, as the Marines were deployed in support of Joint Task Force-Southern Border, part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to bolster border security.
The Marines were traveling in a civilian rental vehicle when the accident occurred. No civilians were harmed, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Mission: Sealing the Southern Border
Joint Task Force–Southern Border, or JTF-SB, is a U.S. military command created in March 2025 to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border. It was activated at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and is led by Army Major General Scott M. Naumann. JTF-SB operates under the authority of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), and its establishment is tied to executive orders issued by President Donald Trump aimed at tightening border security and reducing illegal immigration.
The main job of JTF-SB is to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by running what are called “all-domain operations.” That means the task force helps with a wide range of support activities: things like surveillance and monitoring, logistics, transportation, fixing vehicles, providing training, handling data, flying aircraft, building infrastructure, and analyzing intelligence. Instead of having these efforts scattered across various commands, JTF-SB brings them under one roof to improve how the Department of Defense (DoD) carries out its mission at the border.
JTF-SB manages operations along the entire southern border, which stretches about 2,000 miles from San Diego, California, to McAllen, Texas. As of March 2025, roughly 10,000 service members—mostly from the Army and Marine Corps—are part of this mission. Their role is to assist CBP and help maintain control over the border, not to engage directly in law enforcement.
In a major change this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave troops assigned to JTF-SB permission to patrol the border on foot or in vehicles. Previously, they were limited to more passive roles, such as surveillance from fixed positions. While they still can’t arrest or detain people, they now have more freedom to actively monitor border activity and report what they see to CBP officers, who handle enforcement.
JTF-SB works closely with other federal agencies, particularly the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP. The task force includes leaders from both CBP and the Marine Corps to ensure effective communication and coordination. This structure ensures that military efforts comply with civilian laws and support law enforcement objectives.
On April 15, 2025, two U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton lost their lives, and a third was critically injured, in a vehicle accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The incident occurred around 8:50 a.m. MDT, as the Marines were deployed in support of Joint Task Force-Southern Border, part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to bolster border security.
The Marines were traveling in a civilian rental vehicle when the accident occurred. No civilians were harmed, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Mission: Sealing the Southern Border
Joint Task Force–Southern Border, or JTF-SB, is a U.S. military command created in March 2025 to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border. It was activated at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and is led by Army Major General Scott M. Naumann. JTF-SB operates under the authority of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), and its establishment is tied to executive orders issued by President Donald Trump aimed at tightening border security and reducing illegal immigration.
The main job of JTF-SB is to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by running what are called “all-domain operations.” That means the task force helps with a wide range of support activities: things like surveillance and monitoring, logistics, transportation, fixing vehicles, providing training, handling data, flying aircraft, building infrastructure, and analyzing intelligence. Instead of having these efforts scattered across various commands, JTF-SB brings them under one roof to improve how the Department of Defense (DoD) carries out its mission at the border.
JTF-SB manages operations along the entire southern border, which stretches about 2,000 miles from San Diego, California, to McAllen, Texas. As of March 2025, roughly 10,000 service members—mostly from the Army and Marine Corps—are part of this mission. Their role is to assist CBP and help maintain control over the border, not to engage directly in law enforcement.
In a major change this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave troops assigned to JTF-SB permission to patrol the border on foot or in vehicles. Previously, they were limited to more passive roles, such as surveillance from fixed positions. While they still can’t arrest or detain people, they now have more freedom to actively monitor border activity and report what they see to CBP officers, who handle enforcement.
JTF-SB works closely with other federal agencies, particularly the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP. The task force includes leaders from both CBP and the Marine Corps to ensure effective communication and coordination. This structure ensures that military efforts comply with civilian laws and support law enforcement objectives.
A History of Tragedy: The Human Cost of Border Militarization
This incident is not isolated. In 1997, 18-year-old Esequiel Hernández Jr. was fatally shot by U.S. Marines near Redford, Texas, while herding goats. The Marines, on a drug patrol, mistook Hernández for a threat.
More recently, in 2022, a Texas National Guard soldier died during Operation Lone Star, a state-led border security mission. His death marked at least the eighth tied to the operation since its inception.
These incidents underscore the risks associated with deploying military personnel in domestic law enforcement roles, particularly in complex and volatile environments like the U.S.-Mexico border.
Looking Forward: Reflecting on the Costs
The loss of these two Marines is a tragic reminder that securing our borders is not without sacrifice. As the United States continues to confront the ongoing crisis at the southern border, the deployment of military forces has become a necessary response to a situation that has long overwhelmed civilian law enforcement. These Marines gave their lives in service to a mission aimed at restoring order, upholding national sovereignty, and protecting American citizens—a mission that deserves our full support, not hesitation.
Our thoughts are with the families of the fallen Marines, and with all those who serve in challenging and often dangerous assignments.
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