Trump Declares Military Zone Along Full Southern Border

ByNoah Caldwell

President Donald Trump has authorized the U.S. military to take control of a 60-foot-wide strip of federal land running across the southern border, effectively creating a militarized buffer zone along the frontier with Mexico. The unprecedented move, outlined in a Friday night memorandum, could potentially place active-duty troops in direct contact with migrants, raising significant legal questions about military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

The directive orders the Departments of Interior, Defense, Homeland Security, and Agriculture to transfer jurisdiction of the Roosevelt Reservation—a narrow band of federal land that stretches across California, Arizona, and New Mexico—to military control. This transformation effectively converts these borderlands into military installations where soldiers can temporarily detain migrants for “trespassing on military property,” according to The Independent.

“Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats,” the presidential memo states. “The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past.” The document excludes Federal Indian Reservations from the military zone.

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Legal Loophole or Constitutional Crisis?

Critics argue the administration is attempting to circumvent the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which generally prohibits the military from engaging in domestic law enforcement activities. By designating border crossers as “trespassers” on military property rather than immigration violators, the administration appears to be creating a legal workaround to allow soldiers to detain migrants until Border Patrol agents arrive.

“Welp they’re doing the Roosevelt Reservation crazy strategy, giving the military ‘jurisdiction’ over a 60-foot-wide stretch of land from CA to AZ and then claim that migrants are being arrested for ‘trespassing on military property’ thus trying to bypass the Posse Comitatus Act,” wrote Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, in a social media post cited by The Independent.

The move represents a significant escalation of Trump’s border enforcement strategy, which has already seen the deployment of approximately 10,000 U.S. troops to the region—quadruple the 2,500 soldiers stationed there during the Biden administration. Military personnel have been using drones and armored Stryker vehicles as part of their operations.

Plummeting Crossing Numbers Accelerate

Border crossings had already been declining sharply since Trump took office in January. According to Customs and Border Protection data, just over 7,000 illegal crossings were recorded in March, down from 28,654 in February—a 75% reduction in a single month. These numbers represent a steep drop from the Biden-era peak of over 370,000 monthly crossings.

The White House has been making the legal argument that the United States is “under invasion” by migrants and cartels, justifying the use of sweeping emergency powers. In January, Trump declared a national emergency at the border and designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

According to CNN, the memo explains that the four agency heads will “initially implement this memorandum on a limited sector of federal lands” designated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. However, at any time, Hegseth can “extend activities” under the memo to additional federal lands along the border.

Phased Implementation with Expansion Potential

The militarization appears designed to be implemented gradually. The Nebraska Examiner reports that the memo instructs “phased” implementation within 45 days, with provisions allowing for expanded control over time. It specifically states that “at any time, the Secretary of Defense may extend activities under this memorandum to additional Federal lands along the southern border.”

The memo also indicates that “members of the Armed Forces will follow rules for the use of force prescribed by the Secretary of Defense,” suggesting soldiers will have authority to engage with individuals they encounter in the buffer zone.

This border militarization comes ahead of a crucial report due to Trump by April 20 from the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security with recommendations on whether to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to aid in mass deportations—a move that would further expand military involvement in immigration enforcement.

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Broader Pattern of Military Deployment

Friday’s directive is part of a series of executive orders signed by Trump earlier this year that outline the use of military forces within U.S. borders. The administration has already demonstrated its willingness to use emergency wartime powers for immigration enforcement, invoking the rarely used Alien Enemies Act to summarily deport alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.

The administration is also reportedly considering using drones to attack Mexican drug cartels on Mexican soil, according to The Independent.

States such as Texas already have thousands of National Guard troops stationed at the boundary line under Governor Abbott’s controversial Operation Lone Star, which the federal military deployment appears designed to complement rather than replace.

As the military begins establishing control over the border buffer zone, legal challenges appear inevitable as civil liberties organizations prepare to contest what they view as an unprecedented expansion of military authority into domestic law enforcement.

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Noah Caldwell

Noah is a veteran journalist with a passion for uncovering the truth behind global events. From geopolitical shifts to breaking news, his sharp investigative skills bring depth and clarity to every story.

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