America has been invaded by illegal immigrants. Now the gloves are off.
And the US military issued an unprecedented order for the southern border.
Pentagon Introduces Mexican Border Defense Medal to Honor Troops in Trump’s Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
The Pentagon has introduced the Mexican Border Defense Medal (MBDM) to recognize U.S. service members deployed to the southern border since January 20, 2025, as part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive campaign to curb illegal immigration, according to an August 13 Pentagon memorandum confirmed by a U.S. defense official to Fox News Digital.
Replacing the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM), previously awarded for border support since 2018, the MBDM honors approximately 8,500 troops, including 1,500 National Guard members, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border for their role in securing the U.S.-Mexico border, where illegal crossings have dropped to under 5,000 per month in 2025, per Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.
Medal Eligibility and Task Force Operations
Eligibility for the MBDM requires service members to be permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit supporting CBP within 100 nautical miles of the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or California, or within 24 nautical miles of adjacent U.S. waters, for at least 30 consecutive or nonconsecutive days, per the Pentagon memo.
The task force, launched in March 2025, completed 3,500 patrols by July, enhancing detection, monitoring, and drug interdiction efforts, including a notable seizure of 1,296 pounds of cocaine by the USS Sampson and U.S. Coast Guard, per Defense World.
Four newly established national defense areas, covering 110,000 acres, grant troops authority to detain illegal trespassers, a power previously restricted under federal law, enabling swift handovers to CBP, as stated by Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot of U.S. Northern Command.
Service members previously awarded the AFSM for border duty may apply to exchange it for the MBDM but cannot hold both for the same period, ensuring the new medal distinctly honors Trump’s border security mission.
Impact and Controversy
The MBDM, positioned after the Korea Defense Service Medal in precedence, reflects a historic shift in recognizing military contributions to border enforcement, drawing parallels to the 1917 Mexican Service Medal and 1918 Mexican Border Service Medal issued during the Pancho Villa Expedition.
Supporters, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, praise the medal as a fitting tribute to troops who’ve reduced illegal immigration by over 70% since January, per posts on X, easing pressure on local economies and public services.
Critics, however, argue the medal glorifies a militarized approach, with some X users calling it a “participation trophy” that distracts from broader immigration policy challenges.
The Pentagon’s $200 million reallocation to replace a 12-foot mesh barrier with a 30-foot permanent wall at the Barry M. Goldwater Range further cements Trump’s focus on fortifying the border, a move credited with contributing to a 1.4 million drop in the U.S. immigrant population by June 2025, per Pew Research Center data.
