
US military creates new military zone along border with Mexico, World News
President Donald Trump has launched an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign since taking office, increasing troops at the southern border and pledging to deport millions of immigrants in the United States illegally.
The Trump administration in April said it designated a 170-square-mile (440 square km) strip along the base of New Mexico as a "National Defence Area."
Late on Thursday (May 1), the US military said it had established the "Texas National Defence Area" in a 63 mile-long strip running east from the Texas-New Mexico border in El Paso.
US Customs and Border Protection maintains jurisdiction over illegal border crossings in the area and troops would hand over migrants they detained to US Border Patrol or other civilian law enforcement.
So far, 82 migrants have been charged for crossing into the New Mexico military zone, according to the state's US Attorney's Office. US troops have not detained any of them and they were dealt with by CBP officials.
The zone is intended to allow the Trump administration to use troops to detain migrants without invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act that empowers a president to deploy the US military to suppress events such as civil disorder.
Around 11,900 troops are currently on the border. The number of migrants caught crossing illegally in March fell to the lowest level recorded, according to government data.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, a Republican, on Thursday posted pictures of razor-wire barrier construction, saying "Texas continues to work with the Trump Administration to stop illegal immigration."
[[nid:715471]]
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has opposed what she calls a "deportation buffer zone," in a March social media post calling it "a waste of resources and military personnel."
The office of New Mexico US Senator Martin Heinrich on Friday said the buffer zone was several miles wide in places, raising concerns for civilians who might accidentally enter it.
"It's much further than just the 60-foot Roosevelt Reservation," Heinrich spokeswoman Caty Payette told Source NM, referring to a strip of federal land running along the border.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump says he wants Musk and his companies to thrive in US
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Mr Musk (left) spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help Mr Trump win November's presidential election. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on July 24 he would not destroy Mr Elon Musk's companies by taking away federal subsidies and said he wants the billionaire entrepreneur's businesses to thrive. 'Everyone is stating that I will destroy Elon's companies by taking away some, if not all, of the large scale subsidies he receives from the US Government. This is not so!,' Mr Trump said in a social media post. 'I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE.' The statement follows Mr Musk's warning to Tesla investors on July 23 that US government cuts in support for electric vehicle makers could lead to a 'few rough quarters' for the company. Mr Musk spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help Mr Trump win November's presidential election and led the Department of Government Efficiency's chaotic effort to slash the budget and cut the federal workforce. The Tesla CEO left the administration in late May to refocus on his tech empire. Mr Trump and Mr Musk fell out shortly afterwards when Mr Musk openly denounced the Republican president's tax-cut and spending Bill, leading to threats by Mr Trump to cancel billions of dollars worth of federal government contracts with Mr Musk's companies. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Asia Live: People evacuated from border regions amid deadly Thailand-Cambodia clash Singapore Technology can help efforts to shift healthcare delivery towards the community: Ong Ye Kung Singapore Mice industry will need more manpower in sectors like technology, sustainability: Alvin Tan Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore Mindef to set up new volunteer management unit to grow volunteer pool Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B


CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
EU approves counter-tariffs on US goods, says trade deal within reach
BRUSSELS: The European Commission said on Thursday (Jul 24) a negotiated trade solution with the United States is within reach - while EU members voted to approve counter-tariffs on €93 billion (US$109 billion) of US goods in case the talks collapse. The 27-nation bloc's executive has repeatedly said its primary focus is on reaching a deal to avert 30 per cent US tariffs that US President Donald Trump has said he will apply on Aug 1. "Our focus is on finding a negotiated outcome with the US ... We believe such an outcome is within reach," an EU spokesperson said in response to reporters' questions. Alongside negotiations, the Commission has pressed on with plans for potential countermeasures, merging two packages of proposed tariffs of €21 billion and €72 billion into a single list and submitting this to EU members for approval. The rate would be up to 30 per cent, designed to mirror US tariffs, EU sources said. Diplomats said EU countries overwhelmingly approved the measures on Thursday, which the Commission later confirmed. The first package of countermeasures would enter force on Aug 7, with tariffs on soybeans and almonds delayed until Dec 1, an EU official said. The second package would enter force in two stages on Sep 7 and Feb 7. So far the EU has held back from imposing any countermeasures, despite Trump's tariffs already covering 70 per cent of EU exports. EU member states authorised the first package of countermeasures in April, but these were immediately suspended to allow time for negotiations. CLOSING ON DEAL The EU and United States now appear to be heading towards a possible trade deal, according to EU diplomats, which would result in a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring a framework agreement Washington struck with Japan. Trump would still need to take any final decision. The White House said discussions of a deal should be considered "speculation". Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro told Bloomberg News the report from the EU should be taken with "a grain of salt". French Finance Minister Eric Lombard and Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso told a joint press conference in Paris they were not aware of a draft agreement, Urso adding he would only pass judgment when one was reached. There was little information available about what the EU would offer the United States to secure a deal. One EU diplomat said the bloc was not looking at a pledge of investment in the United States, as Japan has agreed. Another said the EU might reduce some of its own duties. Its current import duty for cars is 10 per cent. Under the outlines of the potential deal, the 15 per cent rate could apply to sectors including cars and pharmaceuticals and would not be added to long-standing US duties, which average just under 5 per cent. There could also be exemptions for sectors such as aircraft, lumber as well as some medicines and agricultural products, which would not face tariffs, diplomats said.


CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
India and UK hail 'historic day' with signing of landmark free trade agreement
India and the UK have signed a landmark free trade agreement, in what both sides are calling a "historic day" in bilateral ties. The US$6.5-billion deal was officially inked during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day official visit to Britain. The pact was sealed after more than three years of negotiations, with both sides rushing to get it done in the wake of US President Donald Trump's tariff policy. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hailed the deal as a powerful message showing that the UK is open for business. It also marks India's first major free trade pact outside Asia. Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi and Stuart Smith reports from London.