Operation Unified Resolve Sees 70% Drop in Rio Grande Valley Crossings

Just 30 days after U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force Southern Border repositioned hundreds of service members to Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, illegal crossings and suspicious activity in the sector have plummeted by approximately 70%.

The surge, conducted under Operation Unified Resolve, significantly expanded patrol capacity, enhanced detection and monitoring networks, and reinforced critical infrastructure in one of the most challenging sections of the United States’ 1,954-mile southern border. Operating in direct support of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the enhanced military footprint has sharpened rapid-response capabilities across the region.

Operation Unified Resolve falls under the broader umbrella of Operation Ardent Vanguard, which Joint Task Force Southern Border has led in support of federal law enforcement partners since March 2025.

“At the request of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, we are bringing every available resource and capability to bear against those who profit from human misery,” said Army Lt. Gen. Curtis Taylor, outgoing task force and 1st Armored Division commander. “To the criminal cartels operating along our border: we will not tolerate attacks on U.S. security forces or border agents and will deny you the ability to exploit our border for criminal gain.”

Cross-Border Cooperation and Counter-UAS Operations

A cornerstone of the effort included synchronizing operations among interagency partners and Mexican military forces. Over the past month, U.S. service members conducted 1,186 mounted and riverine patrols, including 48 mirrored patrols alongside the Mexican military.

“The first 30 days of Operation Unified Resolve demonstrated the incredible progress we can make when U.S. and Mexican forces work hand in hand with a common purpose to solve a common challenge,” Taylor said. 

In addition to ground and riverine maneuvers, task force personnel countered evolving aerial threats, logging 17 unmanned aircraft system detections during the first month. 

Army Col. Robert Felicio, commander of the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, credited the technical expertise of the deployed forces in adapting to complex cartel tactics. 

“Our leaders and operators, in cooperation with our interagency partners and the Mexican military, execute with speed and precision to defend against and defeat cartel drones and dismantle cartel networks to safeguard our service members and mission partners,” Felicio said. 

Sustaining Homeland Defense 

Task force leaders emphasized that while the initial 30-day metrics show sharp declines in illicit activity, sustained border security relies on enduring interagency integration rather than any single capability.

“Homeland defense is the foundation of the operations we and our partners execute on the southern border,” Felicio said. “We are committed to protecting our force, securing the border and countering the illicit activities of cartels and transnational criminal organizations.”

Felicio added that the bottom line is simple: there is no silver bullet.

“Success is forged through the strength of our partnerships, the trust we build and our ability to operate as one team,” he said. “This is a great example of a great team working together on a unified mission.”