Photo By Lance Cpl. Nataly Espitia | U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Andrew Brazell, the delta company commander, Task Force...... read more read more
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Imperial Beach, Calif. – Almost 60 miles of concertina wire line the southern border barrier, as Task Force Sapper, comprised of 500 Marines and Sailors across I Marine Expeditionary Force, holds one last formation at the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station, Calif., July 14, 2025.
Since deploying Jan. 23, Task Force Sapper, under the direction of Joint Task Force-Southern Border, has played a key role in supporting the mission of U.S. Northern Command by reinforcing priority segments of the U.S.-Mexico border infrastructure through engineering operations in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
“With a primary focus on barrier reinforcement, the Marines of Task Force Sapper have worked in coordination with U.S. Border Patrol in multiple sectors to bolster existing infrastructure,” said Gunnery Sgt. Ildefonso Macaraeg, watch chief of Task Force Sapper. “The Marines laid a cumulative total of 58 miles of concertina wire to deter illegal border crossings in USBP’s San Diego Sector.”
Beyond surface-level reinforcement, the Marines addressed subterranean vulnerabilities by installing barriers blocking over 20 tunnels, which pose serious security and structural challenges to border infrastructure between Imperial Beach and Otay Mesa, California.
To plan for future engineering efforts, Task Force Sapper deployed an engineer reconnaissance platoon to conduct assessments over several weeks, covering thousands of miles of key terrain from Arizona through Texas. Their mission was to identify areas where the border barrier may require reinforcement and recommend road improvement projects to enhance accessibility and mobility to U.S. Border Patrol agents.
“The recon team helped us look ahead, to understand where engineering capabilities are needed next,” Macaraeg said. “The information they gathered was sent up to higher headquarters to enable follow-on missions across the Joint Task Force-Southern Border.”
In a show of joint engineering capability, Task Force Sapper also partnered with U.S. Army engineers to conduct boom operations training. Together, they certified 66 Soldiers on the safe and effective use of boom equipment, essential for wire emplacement at elevated or otherwise inaccessible points along the existing infrastructure.
U.S. Marines Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone Barrion, the commanding officer of Task Force Sapper, ended the formation by commending the Marines and Sailors under his command for their professionalism while executing a high-impact mission.
“Marines and Sailors, you brought professionalism and discipline to this mission every single day,” said Barrion. “We were the first task force to bring engineering capabilities to the southern border under U.S. Northern Command. Your time at the southern border has ended, but the legacy of Task Force Sapper will endure for years to come.”
| Date Taken: | 07.14.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2025 17:47 |
| Story ID: | 544536 |
| Location: | IMPERIAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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