Donald Trump has officially authorized the military to take control of land along the US-Mexico border as part of his broader strategy to combat undocumented immigration. This significant decision was made public through a memorandum issued late on Friday, directed to key members of his administration, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins.
The memorandum, titled “Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions,” empowers the armed forces to take a more direct role in securing the southern border. According to the order, “Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats,” underscoring the complexities and challenges faced in managing border security today.
Furthermore, the memorandum stipulates that the Department of Defense will be granted jurisdiction over federal lands, specifically the Roosevelt Reservation. This 60-foot-wide strip spans across California, Arizona, and New Mexico, allowing military personnel to legally detain individuals accused of trespassing. Undocumented immigrants would be held in custody until they can be handed over to immigration authorities.
The memorandum outlines various military activities that are now permitted on federal land. These include border-barrier construction and the installation of detection and monitoring equipment. The directive aims to enhance the security measures at the border, addressing the pressing concerns regarding unauthorized immigration.
After an initial period of 45 days, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is tasked with evaluating the progress of this military mission. Importantly, the memorandum allows Hegseth the discretion to extend the jurisdiction over additional federal lands if deemed necessary. However, it is important to note that this military initiative explicitly excludes Native American reservations, respecting the sovereignty of those lands.
This order is part of Trump’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration enforcement, which has included declaring a national emergency at the southern border. Just a day prior to this memorandum, a US federal judge ruled in favor of the Trump administration's requirement that non-citizens residing in the country must register with the federal government. This requirement, which advocates claim has not been consistently enforced since its inception in the 1940s, could lead to fines or potential imprisonment for those who fail to comply.
The announcement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), made on February 25, was perceived by many as a workaround to the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal law that restricts military involvement in civilian law enforcement. This development highlights the administration's continued focus on stringent immigration policies and the evolving role of the military at the US-Mexico border.
