Three hundred Mexican Army soldiers arrived in Baja California by land on Saturday, May 17, as part of a federal effort to reduce intentional homicides and strengthen public safety across the state.
The Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) confirmed the deployment, stating that the troops traveled overland to the border state. According to SEDENA, the soldiers will carry out deterrence operations aimed at curbing crime rates and preserving public order.
Federal Response to Rising Homicide Numbers
The deployment signals that federal authorities view current crime levels in Baja California as requiring reinforcement beyond what state and municipal police can handle alone. Tijuana and Mexicali, the state’s two largest cities, have consistently ranked among Mexico’s most violent municipalities in recent years, with both cities drawing sustained federal attention over homicide rates.
Baja California has a long history of large-scale military operations. The federal government launched “Operation Baja California” in January 2007 with more than 3,200 officers from SEDENA, the Navy, and federal police. Smaller reinforcements have followed at intervals since then, including a 2010 deployment of 300 Marines and Federal Police to Tijuana after a series of attacks on municipal police officers.
What Residents and Travelers Should Expect
Residents and visitors should expect an increased military presence on highways and in urban areas. Military checkpoints are common during these operations, particularly along the Tijuana-Ensenada corridor, the Mexicali-Tecate highway, and at entry points to major cities. Soldiers at checkpoints typically inspect vehicles and check identification.
The Mexican Army currently numbers about 275,000 active-duty personnel nationwide. General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo serves as Secretary of National Defense under President Claudia Sheinbaum. Baja California’s 2nd Special Forces Brigade is already headquartered in Tijuana, making the border city a key hub for military operations in the northwest.
The deployment follows a similar move in neighboring Baja California Sur, where more than 300 security personnel, including an additional SEDENA battalion, were sent to all five municipalities in May 2025 after a spike in violence there.
This story was first reported by Zeta Tijuana.