The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday announced the launch of Operation River Wall, a new initiative aimed at securing the Rio Grande against illegal immigration, narcoterrorists, and other criminal activity along the southern border.
The operation will be led by the US Coast Guard, which is deploying more than 100 response boats, shallow-watercraft, command and control assets, and tactical teams to the region. Hundreds of personnel will take part in the mission, which DHS said will “control, secure, and defend the U.S border along approximately 260 miles of the Rio Grande Valley.”
“President Trump delivered the most secure southern border in U.S. history in record time, and now, our goal is to make sure it stays that way for the long run,” Secretary Noem said in a statement. “The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard are experts at defending America’s maritime borders–they have been doing that with honor, respect and devotion to duty since 1790. Now, Coast Guard Forces Rio Grande and Operation River Wall will be a force multiplier in defending against illegal immigration.”
Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, Acting Commandant of the Coast Guard, added that the guard leads “the world at tactical boat operations and maritime interdiction at sea, along coasts, and in riverine environments,” and that the operation will see the Coast Guard control the southern border in the Rio Grande River.
The large-scale mobilization marks another step in the Trump administration’s effort to strengthen border security. Since Trump took office, there has been a significant drop in illegal crossings. DHS recently reported that in fiscal year 2025, Border Patrol recorded the lowest number of southwest border apprehensions since 1970.
Earlier this month, the administration awarded $4.5 billion in contracts to build a 230-mile “Smart Wall,” described as a hybrid system combining steel barriers, waterborne defenses, patrol roads, lighting, cameras, and advanced detection technology to reinforce the southern border.
