Navy Deploys Destroyer USS Spruance to Southern Border to Bolster Maritime Security
The United States Navy has announced the deployment of the USS Spruance, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, to the southern border to augment ongoing maritime efforts aimed at curbing illegal immigration and drug smuggling. The deployment, which commenced on Saturday from Naval Base San Diego, is intended to enhance the security and territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.
According to Navy officials, the USS Spruance will support a multi-faceted approach to address a range of maritime-related threats, including terrorism, weapons proliferation, transnational crime, piracy, environmental destruction, and illegal seaborne immigration. The vessel’s advanced capabilities will bolster interagency collaboration and contribute to a more coordinated and robust response to these challenges.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), emphasized the importance of the USS Spruance’s deployment in expanding the reach of unique military capabilities working alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He noted that the presence of the USS Spruance off the West Coast, coupled with the recent deployment of the USS Gravely, another destroyer, in the Gulf of Mexico, significantly strengthens the Navy’s maritime presence.
Guillot further stated that this increased naval presence contributes to the all-domain, coordinated Department of Defense (DOD) response to the Presidential Executive Order, demonstrating a firm resolve to achieve operational control of the border. The deployment reflects the military’s commitment to supporting civilian law enforcement agencies in maintaining border security.
The decision to deploy the USS Spruance comes amid a surge in migrant boat encounters near the San Diego coast. Coast Guard officials reported hundreds of such encounters in the past 90 days, prompting the allocation of additional resources to address the situation. The USS Spruance’s maritime capabilities will provide critical support to the Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies in intercepting and deterring illegal maritime activities.
The deployment of the USS Spruance to the U.S. Northern Command is in direct response to executive orders signed by President Donald Trump, a national emergency declaration, and a clarification of the military’s role in protecting the territorial integrity of the United States. USNORTHCOM continues to fill critical capabilities gaps in support of DHS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ensuring a comprehensive and effective approach to border security.
The USS Spruance will be accompanied by an embedded U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), which was created in 1982. These detachments are highly trained units specializing in a wide range of maritime interdiction missions. Their expertise includes counter-piracy operations, military combat operations, alien migration interdiction, military force protection, counter-terrorism, homeland security, and humanitarian response.
The inclusion of a LEDET on board the USS Spruance will enhance the vessel’s ability to effectively enforce maritime laws and regulations, further strengthening border security efforts. The LEDET’s specialized training and capabilities will complement the Navy’s resources, creating a formidable force capable of addressing a variety of threats.
Notably, the USS Spruance recently returned to Naval Base San Diego on December 19, 2024, following a five-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG). During that deployment, the strike group was ordered to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to bolster U.S. military force posture in the Middle East.
The ABECSG’s mission included deterring regional escalation, degrading Houthi capabilities, defending U.S. forces, and sailing alongside allies and partners to promote security, stability, and prosperity. Destroyers assigned to the ABECSG, including the USS Spruance, played a crucial role in providing a layer of defense to U.S. forces and ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels and partner nations transiting in international waterways like the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
The USS Spruance’s recent deployment to the Middle East highlights its versatility and adaptability. Its ability to transition from a combat role in a volatile region to a border security mission demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to utilizing its resources effectively to address a variety of national security challenges.
The deployment of the USS Spruance to the southern border is a significant step in bolstering maritime security and addressing the ongoing challenges of illegal immigration and drug smuggling. The vessel’s advanced capabilities, combined with the expertise of the embedded Coast Guard LEDET, will enhance interagency collaboration and contribute to a more robust and coordinated response to these threats. The Navy’s commitment to supporting civilian law enforcement agencies in maintaining border security underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity.
The strategic deployment of the USS Spruance and the USS Gravely demonstrates the Navy’s capacity to project power and maintain a strong maritime presence in critical regions. By coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection, the Navy is playing a vital role in securing the U.S. southern border and protecting the nation from a wide range of maritime threats. The increased naval presence serves as a deterrent to illegal activities and reinforces the commitment to maintaining operational control of the border.
