The U.S. military has been granted unprecedented authority to detain migrants at the New Mexico border, marking a significant shift in federal border security strategy that may soon expand to Texas.
Quick Takes
- A 60-foot-wide zone along the New Mexico-Mexico border has been designated as part of Arizona’s Fort Huachuca, creating a National Defense Area
- U.S. military personnel now have authority to search, detain, and provide medical assistance to undocumented migrants in this zone
- The Department of the Interior transferred nearly 110,000 acres of federal land to the Army for a three-year period
- This initiative spans more than 170 miles in New Mexico with plans to add 90+ miles in Texas
- Joint Task Force-Southern Border will conduct enhanced surveillance operations including vehicle and foot patrols
Military Takes Control of Border Territory
The U.S. Army’s authority has significantly expanded in parts of New Mexico as President Trump’s administration implements new border security measures. U.S. Northern Command announced the creation of a New Mexico National Defense Area, effectively designating a 60-foot-wide zone of land along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Arizona’s Fort Huachuca. This designation transfers control of the area, previously managed by the Department of the Interior, to the Department of Defense following a presidential order.
The Roosevelt Reservation, which borders Mexico and spans parts of Arizona and New Mexico, now falls under military jurisdiction. The Department of the Interior has transferred nearly 110,000 acres of federal land to the Army to support Border Patrol operations for three years. This territorial redesignation provides the legal framework for military personnel to participate more directly in border security operations previously limited to civilian law enforcement agencies.
🚨 BREAKING: TRUMP JUST TURNED THE BORDER INTO A MILITARY ZONE 🚨
The game has changed.
President Trump has just authorized the U.S. MILITARY to take control of federal land along the southern border.
→ 60 feet wide.
→ Stretching across California, Arizona & New Mexico.
→… pic.twitter.com/DJt2IsVvUh— Jim Ferguson (@JimFergusonUK) April 12, 2025
Enhanced Military Authority at the Border
The newly established National Defense Area grants U.S. Northern Command additional powers specifically targeting illegal immigration. Military personnel can now search and temporarily detain undocumented migrants crossing through this designated zone before transferring them to Customs and Border Protection or other law enforcement agencies. This represents a notable deviation from traditional military restrictions that have historically limited direct involvement in civilian policing matters, particularly regarding immigration enforcement.
“Through these enhanced authorities, U.S. Northern Command will ensure those who illegally trespass in the New Mexico National Defense Area are handed over to Customs and Border Protection or our other law enforcement partners. Joint Task Force-Southern Border will conduct enhanced detection and monitoring, which will include vehicle and foot patrols, rotary wing, and fixed surveillance site operations,” said Gen. Gregory Guillot, USNORTHCOM commander.
The Joint Task Force-Southern Border, established to implement these new security measures, will conduct comprehensive monitoring through multiple surveillance methods. Military personnel are authorized to provide medical assistance and implement crowd control measures as needed while awaiting the arrival of law enforcement officials. The task force may also assist with constructing temporary barriers, signage, and fencing to strengthen border security infrastructure.
Expansion of Border Security Initiative
The current New Mexico initiative appears to be just the first phase of a broader border security strategy. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the administration plans to extend this approach to include more than 90 additional miles in Texas. The creation of these defense areas follows President Trump’s executive orders aimed at curbing illegal border crossings by deploying military forces on public lands across three border states.
“Last week, President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum directing federal agencies administering federal land on the border to make land available to the Defense Department in a new national defense area. … This new national defense area spans more than 170 miles across our border in New Mexico,” said Leavitt.
Army troops are now actively assisting U.S. Customs and Border Protection in patrolling and intercepting illegal activities at the border. This cooperation between military and civilian authorities represents a coordinated approach that leverages additional federal resources to address migration challenges. As the military presence along the southern border expands in the coming weeks, the Trump administration appears committed to a more robust federal response to border security concerns.
