Military Ops on Southern Border

[RadioDitch]

I'm not sure where this falls within the rules since it's not really a covert operation or investigation, and much more a glorified construction project and patrol ops. So if the mods are uncomfortable with it, I understand and won't take it personally. Also posting here since the units are operating in support of DHS/CBP.

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With 9,200 mixed troops now deployed to the Southern Border with Mexico in support of CBP/USBP, and another 3,000 soon to be deployed, I'm curious. What observations, if any, has everyone made with respect to those military units' communications along the border? Does it appear they're likely operating on CBP Nets? Or is there a mix with some actual milcom being used?

Interested to read your catches and observations...

 

[SA_tx_88116]

Here in San Antonio I’ve only seen in increase in traffic on the FBI frequencies. CBP and the others are mostly quiet you might want to check out the national guard frequencies.

 

[nd5y]

If I was near the border I would search Federal VHF/UHF Channel Plans - The RadioReference Wiki.

I don't know enough about NM, AZ, CA or the states bordering Canada to comment on those areas.

Parts of the TX border are covered by some regional public safety trunked systems. DPS uses those in some areas. I don't know how much those systems are used by federal agencies.

It's possible that TX DPS & TX National Guard could be using deployable 700 MHz conventional repeaters or trunked sites where needed or temporary repeaters in the 138-150.8 band or on DPS channels. Department of Public Safety (TX) - The RadioReference Wiki.

The TSICP says:
In an emergency, additional Department of Defense VHF Repeater Channels (below 150.8 MHz) can be made available through coordination with the Communications Coordination Group (CCG). Please contact the CCG through your local Disaster District Committee.

There are probably lots of undiscovered sites on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Trunking System, Various, Multi-State, (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - The RadioReference Wiki) that are not in the database. That's nationwide, not just near the border.

There could be people, especially out of state help, using Texas Common/Shared (TX) - The RadioReference Wiki and Common Public Safety - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[GlobalNorth]

in the metro Phoenix area, there was a traffic increase in the CBP Voter Scan channel. Towards the border and off of the coast of the Baja California, there's been RC-135W aircraft trolling for intel, along with E-3TF, P-8, and rotary wing airframes doing orbits along the border.

Some units are engineer units helping construct the border fence. Some are military police; some are transport units bringing personnel, POL and gear; others are logistics. If there's DoD radio traffic, I haven't heard it and I'm certain that the political opposition to the deployment are listening for it too. The Army and the Marines are being rather quiet.