U.S. Establishes Second Military Zone at Mexico Border to Deter Migrants

The United States military has established a second military zone along its border with Mexico, expanding efforts to curb illegal immigration. The new zone, called the “Texas National Defense Area,” spans a 100-kilometre (63-mile) strip running east from the Texas-New Mexico border near El Paso. This move follows the designation of a similar area in New Mexico last month. These military zones authorize U.S. troops to temporarily detain migrants or trespassers before transferring them to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or other civilian law enforcement agencies, which maintain legal jurisdiction over illegal crossings.

This development is part of a broader anti-immigration campaign launched by President Donald Trump since taking office. His administration has significantly increased troop deployment to the southern border and pledged to deport millions of undocumented individuals from the United States. Reports have highlighted that among those deported by the Trump administration were children who are American citizens.

In April, the first “National Defense Area” was declared along the base of New Mexico, encompassing an 18-metre-wide, 270-kilometre-long (60 feet by 170 miles) corridor. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 82 migrants have been charged for entering this New Mexico military zone, though U.S. troops did not detain any of them directly. Instead, the migrants were processed by CBP officials. These zones provide a mechanism for the Trump administration to leverage military resources in immigration enforcement without resorting to the 1807 Insurrection Act. That law restricts the use of military forces on U.S. soil unless needed to suppress civil unrest or rebellion.

Currently, approximately 11,900 U.S. troops are stationed at various points along the U.S.-Mexico border. Interestingly, government data reveals that illegal border crossings have recently decreased, with the number of apprehensions in March reaching a record low.

In support of the administration’s strategy, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, a Republican, shared images of a razor wire barrier being installed along the border. Abbott stated, “Texas continues to work with the Trump Administration to stop illegal immigration.” Since 2021, Abbott has deployed both the Texas National Guard and state police to bolster border security operations.

In contrast, the move has faced opposition from some state leaders. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, criticized the military zone in her state, referring to it as a “deportation buffer zone.” She argued that such zones are a misallocation of resources and military personnel, especially at a time when migrant crossings are reportedly at their lowest in decades. In a social media post made in March, Grisham emphasized her disagreement with the deployment of military resources for immigration enforcement in her state.

The creation of these military zones represents a significant and controversial step in U.S. immigration policy, allowing for expanded military involvement in border security while bypassing more traditional legal frameworks like the Insurrection Act. The differing reactions from state leaders reflect the ongoing political divide over how best to manage border security and immigration enforcement.