Navy warship USS Gravely is on a mission to strengthen security at the U.S.-Mexico border, Pentagon officials said. Why it matters: The deployment of the guided-missile destroyer that last year was involved in shooting down Iran-backed Houthi rebels' ship attacks in the Middle East to a region the U.

The vessel is commonly used in overseas missions. The Coast Guard typically takes a lead role in security missions at sea close to the United States.

The US Navy has deployed the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely to strengthen security operations at the US-Mexico border, in a move Pentagon officials described as part of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on border protection.