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American Military News
a day ago
- Politics
- American Military News
2 new military zones created by Trump admin along US-Mexico border
President Donald Trump's Department of Defense is creating two new military zones along the southern border between the United States and Mexico. According to The New York Times, two Defense Department officials said that the Pentagon is establishing new military zones in Texas and Arizona. The Texas military zone will be part of the Marine Corps Air Station, which is located in Yuma, and the Arizona military zone will be part of Joint Base San Antonio, according to the outlet. A defense official confirmed The New York Times report in a statement to The Hill. The anonymous defense official explained that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth instructed the secretaries of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force to 'take necessary action to establish National Defense Areas along the U.S.-Mexico border.' The defense official added, 'DoD's new jurisdiction over these stretches of land and river will enhance the authority of the Department to secure the U.S. southern border from unlawful entry and to maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States.' In a Wednesday press release, the Air Force said it will now oversee a National Defense Area spanning roughly 250 miles of the Rio Grande River in Texas' Hidalgo and Cameron Counties. READ MORE: US troops detain 'illegal aliens' in military zones along US-Mexico border 'Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) service members, under the direction of USNORTHCOM, will operate within the NDA,' the Air Force stated. 'Their responsibilities include enhanced detection and monitoring through stationary positions and mobile patrols, temporarily detaining trespassers until they are transferred to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, and supporting the installation of temporary barriers, and signage to secure the area.' The Air Force explained that the new National Defense Area is the 'latest in a series' of military zones created to 'strengthen interagency coordination and bolster security operations along the U.S. southern border.' The Air Force noted that the Defense Department previously established National Defense Areas in Texas and New Mexico as part of U.S. Northern Command's 'whole-of-government approach to homeland defense.' According to the press release, the first National Defense Area was created in New Mexico on April 21 and includes roughly 170 miles of land as part of an extension of Fort Huachuca, while a second National Defense Area was created in West Texas on May 1 and includes roughly 63 miles of land as part of an extension of Fort Bliss. '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 concluded.
UPI
2 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Hegseth orders 3rd border buffer zone along U.S.-Mexico border
The Pentagon has ordered the creation of a third National Defense Area along the U.S.-Mexico border. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo June 26 (UPI) -- Amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the establishment of another buffer zone along the U.S.-Mexico border where the military can apprehend non-citizens. The National Defense Area, announced Wednesday, will cover about 250 miles of the Rio Grande River in Texas' Cameron and Hidalgo Counties. According to a statement from the U.S. Air Force, Hegseth issued the directed on June 18. "This 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. With the move, three NDAs have been established along the U.S.-Mexico border under President Donald Trump's April 11 memorandum directing the U.S. military to seal the southern border to repel an alleged "invasion" of immigrants trying to enter the country. Border security was a key focus of Trump's re-election campaign, which included him spouting derogatory rhetoric and misinformation about migrants. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has led a crackdown on immigration. In NDAs, U.S. military personnel can temporarily detain alleged trespassers and then transfer them to appropriate law enforcement. So far, the Trump administration has erected three NDAs including the one announced Wednesday. The first NDA was established in New Mexico on April 21 and spans some 170 miles along the state's border. The second one was erected on May 1 in West Texas, covering about 63 miles between El Paso and Fort Hancock. The first trial conviction for trespassing in an NDA occurred earlier this month.
2 days ago
- Politics
Pentagon to set up 2 more military buffer zones near border in Arizona and Texas
The Defense Department is setting up two more military buffer zones along the southwestern U.S. border with Mexico. That brings to four the number of "National Defense Areas" where U.S. military personnel can temporarily detain undocumented migrants for trespassing on what are now considered to be extensions of U.S. military bases. U.S. military personnel operating in the buffer zones do not carry out law enforcement duties, but can temporarily detain any trespassers, as they would at any military base, until they are transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel. The Air Force announced in a news release Wednesday that a 250-mile stretch of the border in Texas along the Rio Grande River in Cameron and Hidalgo counties will be transferred from the International Boundary and Water Commission and be considered a part of Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Another buffer zone will be established in western Arizona and will be considered a part of Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, according to a U.S. official. The Marine Corps has not yet formally made an announcement about the establishment of the new National Defense Area attached to the Yuma installation, which the official said would extend for 100 miles. Previously, the Pentagon had established the Texas National Defense Area -- covering 63 miles -- attached to Fort Bliss, Texas, and the New Mexico National Defense Area -- covering 170 miles -- attached to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The Air Force said Wednesday that members of the Joint Task Force-Southern Border, under the direction of U.S. Northcom will operate within the zones. "Their responsibilities include enhanced detection and monitoring through stationary positions and mobile patrols, temporarily detaining trespassers until they are transferred to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, and supporting the installation of temporary barriers, and signage to secure the area," the Air Force said in a statement. Last month, a federal judge dismissed trespassing charges against 98 undocumented immigrants who were arrested in one of the National Defense Areas in New Mexico after finding the federal government had failed to demonstrate they knew they were entering the restricted zone. As of about mid-May, the Justice Department said 60 people had pleaded guilty to charges stemming from illegally entering the National Defense Area in western Texas.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Pentagon expands military zones on U.S.-Mexico border
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon will create two new military zones along the border with Mexico, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, a move that allows troops to temporarily detain migrants or trespassers. President Donald Trump's administration has hailed its actions along the border, including the deployment of active duty troops, as the reason for a sharp decline in crossings by undocumented migrants. Trump made voters' concerns about immigration a cornerstone of his 2024 re-election bid. The Pentagon has already created two military zones, but only four people have been temporarily detained on them, a U.S. official said. A new "National Defense Area" will be created covering about 250 miles (402 km) of the Rio Grande river in Texas and administered as a part of Joint Base San Antonio, according to the Air Force. The U.S. officials said the other military zone would be administered as a part of Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona. The zones are 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 U.S. military to suppress events such as civil disorder. As legal deterrents to border crossers, the zones have had mixed results. Federal magistrate judges in New Mexico and Texas dismissed trespassing charges against dozens of migrants caught in the areas on grounds they did not know they were in a restricted military zone. However, some 120 migrants pleaded guilty to trespassing in the first Texas zone in May and federal prosecutors obtained their first two trespassing convictions for the New Mexico zone on June 18, according to U.S. Attorneys' Offices in the two states. Around 11,900 troops are currently on the border. Illegal border crossings fell to a record low in March after the Biden administration shut down asylum claims in 2024 and Mexico tightened immigration controls.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
US military to create two new border zones, officials say
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon will create two new military zones along the border with Mexico, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, a move that allows troops to temporarily detain migrants or trespassers. President Donald Trump's administration has hailed its actions along the border, including the deployment of active duty troops, as the reason for a sharp decline in crossings by undocumented migrants. Trump made voters' concerns about immigration a cornerstone of his 2024 re-election bid. The Pentagon has already created two military zones, but only four people have been temporarily detained on them, a U.S. official said. A new "National Defense Area" will be created covering about 250 miles (402 km) of the Rio Grande river in Texas and administered as a part of Joint Base San Antonio, according to the Air Force. The U.S. officials said the other military zone would be administered as a part of Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona. The zones are 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 U.S. military to suppress events such as civil disorder. As legal deterrents to border crossers, the zones have had mixed results. Federal magistrate judges in New Mexico and Texas dismissed trespassing charges against dozens of migrants caught in the areas on grounds they did not know they were in a restricted military zone. However, some 120 migrants pleaded guilty to trespassing in the first Texas zone in May and federal prosecutors obtained their first two trespassing convictions for the New Mexico zone on June 18, according to U.S. Attorneys' Offices in the two states. Around 11,900 troops are currently on the border. Illegal border crossings fell to a record low in March after the Biden administration shut down asylum claims in 2024 and Mexico tightened immigration controls.
