U.S. Border Patrol Agent Marcus Trujillo/U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs Roughly 800 National Guard troops stationed at the US-Mexico borders are part of Trump's efforts to combat a "drastic surge of illegal activity on the southern border." Troops provide helicopter support to Border Patrol agents, pave roads, perform vehicle maintenance, and monitor surveillance. Although the National Guard's presence at the boarder is to help look out for suspicious activity, they are prohibited from looking south of the border through binoculars or any other magnifying technology.