In a significant move that has sent shockwaves through both political spheres and immigration advocates, President Donald Trump has authorized the U.S. military to take control of public lands along the southern border with Mexico. This new directive is part of his continued efforts to tighten security at the U.S.-Mexico border, and it builds on his previously declared national emergency aimed at addressing what he refers to as “the attack” on the southern border by various threats.
The order, formally outlined in a National Security Presidential Memorandum issued on Friday, outlines the conditions for the Department of Defense to assume jurisdiction over federal lands along the southern border, which spans the states of California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The memo is an expansion of Trump’s earlier border security actions, further entrenching the role of the military in addressing the crisis he perceives along the border.
Expanding Military Presence at the Southern Border
In his statement, President Trump emphasized that the situation at the southern border had reached a level of complexity that required the military to take a more direct and active role in securing the area. “Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats,” Trump stated. “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.”
This presidential memo gives the Pentagon authority over federal lands, including the Roosevelt Reservation, a strip of federal land that spans the southern borders of California, Arizona, and New Mexico. However, the order specifically excludes Native American reservations, acknowledging their sovereignty while still allowing for military activities related to border security, such as the construction of border barriers and the placement of detection and monitoring equipment.
The decision to grant the military this authority was made in the wake of a national emergency declaration on Inauguration Day that ordered the Pentagon to assess the state of the southern border and submit recommendations. In particular, the memo directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to coordinate actions and ensure that military operations are carried out effectively within the newly designated “National Defense Areas.”
Strengthening Military Efforts at the Border
As part of the new directive, the Trump administration has bolstered its military presence at the southern border. The memo empowers Hegseth to determine the necessary military activities to support the mission, with the understanding that these activities must align with the mission outlined in the “Clarifying the Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States.” This includes setting rules of engagement and determining when the use of force is appropriate.
The military’s role at the border will remain supportive for now, assisting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with surveillance, detection, and monitoring activities. Although active-duty military personnel are generally prohibited from engaging in direct law enforcement activities under the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement, the memo allows for expanded military activities as needed to assist in securing the border.
The Impact of the New Order
This new directive comes after a series of border security actions taken by the Trump administration, including the deployment of an additional 1,500 troops to the border earlier in the year, bringing the total number of military personnel stationed there to 4,000. In addition, a significant shift occurred with the transfer of the 10th Mountain Division headquarters and its commanding officer, Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann, from Fort Drum in New York to Fort Huachuca in southeastern Arizona, where he now oversees Joint Task Force Southern Border.
Under this expanded operation, the Joint Task Force is responsible for overseeing approximately 6,600 troops, with their primary mission focused on providing surveillance and assistance in the detection of illegal border crossings. This partnership between military personnel and CBP has been key in bolstering the government’s efforts to prevent illegal immigration and drug trafficking across the southern border.
Decline in Border Crossings
While the military presence at the border has increased, the effectiveness of the new measures is evident in the sharp decline in illegal border crossings. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded just 7,180 crossings in March, a drastic decrease from the previous years, where the monthly average topped 155,000. This dramatic drop is seen as a major victory for the Trump administration’s border security strategy.
Daily apprehensions have also decreased significantly, dropping to an average of just 230 per day. This marks a 95% reduction from the previous average of 5,100 daily apprehensions under the Biden administration. The steep decline in apprehensions signals that the enhanced military presence, combined with the stricter enforcement policies, may be having the desired effect.
Legal Challenges and Controversies
Alongside the increased military presence and border security measures, the Trump administration has also faced legal challenges over its policies. On Friday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by religious organizations, including churches, challenging the administration’s new policy that permits immigration officers to make arrests near churches and other sensitive locations. The religious groups had argued that this policy could lead to violations of the First Amendment rights, but the judge ruled that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate sufficient harm to justify the legal action.
This legal setback for the Trump administration highlights the ongoing tensions between border security measures and civil liberties. Advocates for immigrants and religious freedoms continue to challenge the administration’s approach, arguing that the aggressive border enforcement policies disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including immigrants seeking asylum.
The Trump Administration’s Border Strategy
This executive order further entrenches the Trump administration’s stance on immigration and border security, reflecting the president’s ongoing commitment to taking a hardline approach to addressing illegal immigration. By involving the military in securing the border, Trump is signaling that he considers the issue a matter of national security and is willing to use all available resources to strengthen enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The new order also reinforces Trump’s narrative that the southern border is under attack from various threats, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal immigration. His emphasis on military control over public lands is designed to address these perceived threats with greater urgency.
The Political Implications
The political implications of this new order are far-reaching. Democrats, who have long opposed Trump’s tough stance on immigration, have expressed deep concerns over the militarization of the southern border. The decision to grant the military authority over federal lands along the border will likely be met with intense opposition from liberal lawmakers and immigrant advocacy groups, who argue that the military should not be involved in domestic law enforcement activities.
On the other hand, Trump’s supporters view this as a necessary and decisive action to protect U.S. sovereignty and address the ongoing crisis at the border. They argue that increased military presence will ensure stronger enforcement of immigration laws and prevent the flow of illegal immigrants into the country.
Conclusion: A High-Stakes Move for Border Security
President Trump’s decision to authorize the military to take control of public lands along the southern border represents a bold and controversial step in his ongoing effort to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. By expanding the role of the military, Trump is signaling his commitment to tackling what he describes as a national security crisis. However, this move is likely to spark further debate and legal challenges, as well as fuel continued division between Republicans and Democrats on the issue of immigration.
As the situation at the southern border continues to evolve, the impact of Trump’s military-led strategy will become clearer. While border crossings have decreased, the broader implications of military involvement in domestic immigration enforcement are yet to be fully realized. As the administration moves forward with these measures, the question remains whether the military presence will truly bring lasting solutions to the challenges at the southern border.
