By Capt. Shamari Pratt, Operation Ardent Vanguard

DEL RIO, Texas — U.S. Army Spc. Liliana Smith, with the 350th Engineer Company, 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, was conducting enhanced detection and monitoring support on Aug. 15, 2026, when U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended a group of six suspected illegal aliens in the Del Rio sector.

Among the group was an infant younger than 1 year old who had sustained a cut to the temple while crossing the border. Smith was on patrol when she received a call about an injured child in need of medical attention.

Smith, a trained Army medic, immediately provided basic medical care. She cleaned and disinfected the wound before applying cream and a bandage.

The group had cut through concertina wire along the border, and the infant was injured in the process.

“I felt like I was doing my job, trying to help out as much as I can,” Smith said.

Smith is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. Her unit is based in Gardena, California, where she serves alongside other Reserve Soldiers who support missions when called upon.

For Smith, the encounter was a reminder that a Soldier’s responsibilities can extend beyond traditional security duties.

U.S. military personnel primarily conduct enhanced detection and monitoring to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These additional authorities enable service members to conduct mobile, ground-based monitoring to detect, track, and monitor movements associated with suspected illegal activity using military tactical vehicles or foot patrols within zones assigned by CBP.

While conducting her rounds, Smith saw an opportunity to help a child in need and acted.

Smith’s response reflected the broader mission of service members supporting operations along the southern border. U.S. Northern Command is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection within narrowly defined authorities to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.