To bolster efforts to curb unlawful entry, the U.S. military will assume oversight of a portion of federal land situated along the nation’s southern boundary, encompassing California, New Mexico, and Arizona. This directive stems from a presidential memorandum released Friday.
The memo, formally titled “Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions,” instructs the secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security to facilitate Department of Defense control over federal lands deemed essential for military operations. These areas include sections within the Roosevelt Reservation—notably excluding federally recognized Native American reservations—and could potentially involve construction of border barriers alongside the deployment of surveillance technology.
As stated in the memorandum:
“Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats. 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 designated area, described as a relatively narrow strip extending approximately 60 feet deep along the border within the Roosevelt Reservation, will be formally established as “National Defense Areas,” allowing for conduct of various military activities.
Here’s what this deployment entails:
- Military Oversight: The Department of Defense will assume jurisdiction over specific federal lands.
- Activities Enabled: This includes potential construction of border barriers and the placement of advanced detection and monitoring equipment.
- Designated Areas: The land will be formally classified as “National Defense Areas.”
- Secretary’s Discretion: The Secretary of Defense retains authority to determine which military actions are necessary and suitable for achieving the mission of border security.
President Trump has consistently prioritized border security throughout his campaign and early presidency, advocating for enhanced enforcement measures.
The Roosevelt Reservation, established in 1907 by Theodore Roosevelt to safeguard the border, represents a longstanding commitment to maintaining national security along this frontier.
