On Friday, President Trump issued a memo ordering the U.S. military to take control of federal lands along the southern border, including the Roosevelt Reservation. This 60-foot-wide strip of land spans across California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The memo, titled “Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions,” aims to enhance border security by designating these areas as “National Defense Areas”. He stated that it was to safeguard “the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the United States.” Although the directive does not alter existing legal rights, it marks an escalation in the federal border control strategy.
Trump’s victory in the November elections was made possible largely by a campaign targeting the migration crisis and the increase in illegal crossings at the southern border. The measure issued over the weekend is meant to reinforce the promises made to combat illegal immigration.
“Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats”, reads the document signed by Trump, “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 memo is based on the executive orders that declared a state of national emergency on the southern border. The military’s role includes constructing border barriers and installing detection equipment, with the goal of reducing illegal crossings. Native American reservations are excluded from this directive. The move has sparked discussions about its implications for immigration policy and potential legal challenges under the Posse Comitatus Act.
“Border security is national security,” said the Pentagon leader, “The DOD is not only willing to—it’s proud to—partner with DHS to defend the sovereignty of our southern border and advance that mission.”
Implementation will begin in a limited sector along the southern border, with a 45-day evaluation period, and may be expanded at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense and DHS.
