President Trump is scheduled to participate in a Mexican Border Defense Medal presentation this afternoon to honor service members at the US-Mexico border.
The Mexican Border Defense Medal was established by the Department of War in August “to recognize service members deployed to the U.S. international border with Mexico for Defense Department support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”
Per the Department of War:
Service members deployed in support of CBP previously were recognized with the Armed Forces Service Medal.
To receive the new award, service members must have been permanently assigned, attached or detailed to a unit that deployed to participate in a designated DOD military operation supporting CBP within the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or nonconsecutive days, from Jan. 20 to a future termination date to be determined, Hegseth said.
The area of eligibility is U.S. land within 100 nautical miles from the international border with Mexico within Texas, including the city of San Antonio, as well as New Mexico, Arizona, California and the adjacent U.S. waters out to 24 nautical miles, he said.
Service members and veterans previously awarded the AFSM may apply for the new award in lieu of the AFSM previously awarded, the secretary said, adding no one can be awarded both medals for the same period of qualifying service.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the President will “discuss his historic efforts to completely secure the border over the past year.”
TODAY at 3PM at THE WHITE HOUSE
President Trump will present the Mexican Border Defense Medal and discuss his historic efforts to completely secure the border over the past year.
Tune in!
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) December 15, 2025
Under Trump, border crossings are at record lows, with November setting the “lowest number of encounters for the start of a fiscal year in history” and marking the seventh consecutive month of zero releases into the United States, according to US Customs and Border Protection.
The event is scheduled to begin at 3 pm ET.
Watch live below:
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