Latest news with #JointTaskForce
Fox News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Pentagon sets up new 250 mile military buffer zone at border with crossings at record lows
Print Close By Michael Dorgan Published June 26, 2025 The Pentagon announced Wednesday that it is establishing an expansive new military buffer zone in Texas aimed at bolstering border security as illegal crossings continue to plummet to record lows. The zone, known as a National Defense Area (NDA), will span 250 miles along the Rio Grande River through Cameron and Hidalgo counties with temporary barriers and signage being set up to secure the area. Members of the Joint Task Force-Southern Border, under the direction of NORTHCOM will operate the zone and they will be responsible for monitoring and carrying out patrols. They will not carry out law enforcement duties but do have the authority to detain border and transfer them to Border Patrol. FEDERAL MAGISTRATE JUDGE DISMISSES TRESPASSING CHARGES AGAINST 98 ARRESTED IN NEW MILITARY ZONE The zone sits on land transferred from the International Boundary and Water Commission and will fall under the administration of Joint Base San Antonio, the Air Force announced. The designation marks the latest in a series of NDAs established to strengthen interagency coordination and bolster security operations along the U.S. southern border, the Air Force said. A 170-mile NDA was set up in New Mexico in April, attached to Fort Huachuca in Arizona while a 63-mile zone was established in West Texas attached to Fort Bliss in May, bringing the total area to well over 480 miles. "These efforts reflect USNORTHCOM's ongoing mission as the DoD's operational lead for homeland defense, ensuring the territorial integrity of the United States' southern border," the Air Force said. A 100-mile NDA will also be set up in Arizona, according to an ABC News report citing a U.S. official. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pentagon to confirm this report. Despite the NDA's being set up this year, 98 illegal migrants who crossed into the New Mexico zone had their trespassing charges dismissed last month with a judge ruling the immigrants did not know they were entering the military zone – and therefore could not be charged, according to court documents. The new Texas NDA comes as the Trump administration continues to see record-low levels of illegal crossings. Between June 1 and June 22, there were 5,414 apprehensions at the border, with the busiest sector being El Paso. During that same timeframe, there have been 986 known "gotaways." Both numbers are the lowest ever recorded. 'MAIN HOTSPOT' AT NORTHERN BORDER RECORDS 95% DROP IN ILLEGAL MIGRANT APPREHENSIONS IN MARCH: WHITE HOUSE In May, there were just under 9,000 apprehensions of illegal immigrants at the border, compared with roughly 118,000 the year prior under the Biden administration by CBP. When President Donald Trump took office in January, the first 11 days saw only 9,086 encounters, and since the numbers have been roughly similar or lower since then. In 2023, there were points when roughly 10,000 migrants were crossing into the U.S. illegally daily, as many people were able to apply for asylum through the CBP One app. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Gotaway numbers are now averaging 46 per day, compared to the average of 1,833 per day at one point under Biden in 2023. Border czar Tom Homan said that zero illegal migrants were released into the U.S. in May. Fox News' Cameron Arcand and Bill Melugin contributed to this report. Print Close URL
CNN
5 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
US military expected to announce two new zones where service members can detain migrants on southern border, officials say
The US Navy and Air Force are expected to announce the establishment of two additional military zones along the US southern border this week, three US officials told CNN. The zones, which are known as National Defense Areas, will be attached to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, the officials said. The NDA around Joint Base San Antonio will include roughly 250 miles of the Rio Grande River, two of the officials added. The NDA near MCAS Yuma will extend over 100 miles along the border, the third official said. The new zones will bring the total count up to four, after the establishment of the Texas National Defense Area attached to Fort Bliss, Texas, in May, and the New Mexico National Defense Area attached to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, in April. 'The establishment of a second National Defense Area increases our operational reach and effectiveness in denying illegal activity along the southern border,' US Northern Command commander Gen. Gregory Guillot said after the establishment of the Texas National Defense Area. 'This is the second area in which Joint Task Force – Southern Border service members who are already detecting and monitoring through stationary positions and mobile patrols nearby can now temporarily detain trespassers until they are transferred to an appropriate law enforcement entity.' US troops are prohibited from conducting law enforcement activities by the Posse Comitatus Act. But the defense areas are treated as extensions of military installations, allowing service members to temporarily detain migrants who are trespassing before handing them off to law enforcement, conduct cursory searches of trespassers, and conduct crowd-control measures. Democratic lawmakers have criticized the defense areas as a way to side-step the act. Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senates Armed Services Committee, said last month that the NDAs 'evade the long-standing protections of the Posse Comitatus Act by allowing military forces to act as de facto border police, detaining migrants until they can be transferred to Customs and Border Protection.' 'In the Administration's telling, this approach permits military involvement in immigration control without invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807,' Reed said. 'This is both unprecedented and a legal fiction. Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico also raised concerns to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth last month that the Trump administration is 'bypassing due process for individuals who either intentionally or unintentionally enter this newly restricted area.' Service members began directly detaining migrants in June. The Department of Justice only just got its first convictions related to trespassing in the NDAs this month. According to the Justice Department, two individuals pleaded guilty to charges including trespassing into the New Mexico National Defense Area. In both cases, the individuals were apprehended by Border Patrol agents. Dozens of national security charges against migrants were dropped by a judge in New Mexico earlier this month after they found little evidence that the migrants knew about the defense areas. The establishment of the new defense areas comes as over 4,000 National Guard troops and roughly 700 active duty Marines are currently mobilized in the Los Angeles area, in response to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.
Bloomberg
13-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Harvard Expands Lawsuit Against US as Trump Funding Feud Deepens
Harvard University expanded its lawsuit Tuesday against the Trump administration for freezing billions of dollars in federal funds, ratcheting up the high-stakes legal battle between the wealthiest US university and the White House. University lawyers revised their lawsuit on the same day the federal Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism said the government terminated $450 million in grants to Harvard. The US earlier froze more than $2.2 billion in funding, citing the university's handling of alleged discrimination on campus.
CNN
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump administration cuts another $450 million in grants to Harvard, on top of $2.2 billion already frozen
The Trump administration is cutting another $450 million in federal grants to Harvard University – on top of $2.2 billion already slashed – tightening even further its ideological pressure on America's oldest and wealthiest university amid a broader battle over control of US college campuses. '(E)ight federal agencies across the government are announcing the termination of approximately $450 million in grants to Harvard, which is in addition to the $2.2 billion that was terminated' previously, the White House's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism said Tuesday morning in a statement that called Harvard's campus 'a breeding ground for virtue signaling and discrimination.' Harvard did not immediately respond to the latest White House declaration. Harvard, which sued the Trump administration last month to reverse its initial funding freeze, 'will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,' university President Alan Garber has said. 'Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.' This is a developing story and will be updated.
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Nigeria: Oyo govt cracks down on illegal miners
In its bid to checkmate the activities of illegal miners in the State, the Oyo State Government has launched a Joint Task Force backed by Executive Order 001/2023. This development is a pointed to comprehensive crackdown on unauthorised mining activities and non-compliance with regulatory frameworks. The state government representatives, traditional rulers, community representatives, and security agencies at separate events held at Babaaro, Igbeti, and Iseyin City Hall, Iseyin reaffirmed their collective commitment to responsible resource management and environmental protection. The Director-General, Oyo State Mineral Development Agency (OYSMIDA), Mr Abiodun Oni in his address declared that the state will no longer tolerate illegal mining activities. He said 'The Joint Task Force has come to stay in Oyo State. Anyone found engaging in illegal mining will be held accountable and prosecuted. The law will take its full course', he said. He commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his visionary leadership and unwavering support in ensuring the security of Oyo residents and the protection of the state's natural resources. He also urged residents to report suspicious activities, saying, 'If you see something, say something. We must all join hands to curb this menace.' As a sign of commitment, the government is providing amenities such as a borehole to serve the local community. The General Manager, OYSMIDA, Mrs. Olufunke Omidiran, described the initiative as a strategic response to the growing threat of illegal mining, emphasizing that the Task Force is well-equipped and tasked with promoting sustainable mining practices and environmental stewardship. In his address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Migrant and Homeland Security, ACG Segun Adegoke (rtd), highlighted the link between illegal mining and organized crime, including banditry and kidnapping. He said 'This Joint Task Force includes all constitutionally recognized security agencies, including the Amotekun Corps' In a related development, the state has begun strict enforcement of Executive Order 001/2023, which mandates mining stakeholders and host communities to comply with the signing of Consent Letters and Community Development Agreements (CDAs) as stipulated by the Nigerian Mining Act. During a stakeholders meeting in Iseyin, Mr. Oni reaffirmed that the directive is designed to safeguard mining communities by clearly defining the responsibilities of all parties involved with a particular emphasis on the role of traditional rulers. According to him, 'Progress has been slow due to limited cooperation from some stakeholders, particularly traditional leaders. This enforcement meeting is to re-emphasize everyone's roles and ensure no one claims ignorance of the process,' Traditional rulers and Local Government officials unanimously appointed His Royal Majesty, the Olu of Igboora, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye, and Hon. Kazeem Olayanju, Vice Chairman of ALGON and Chairman of Olorunsogo Local Government, as key figures in grassroots implementation. Oba Titiloye expressed the traditional institutions' readiness to support the government's efforts, while Hon. Olayanju underscored the importance of ensuring community benefits from mining operations. 'Although mining is on the Federal exclusive list, our communities must still benefit. Miners must register with the State and enter into CDAs before obtaining community consent,' he noted. Representatives from Operation Burst, NSCDC, the Old Oyo National Park, and the Zonal Mining Officer charged the newly inaugurated Task Force to remain focused and proactive in intelligence gathering and enforcement.
