Trump authorizes Military control of border strip for migrant detention
President Donald Trump has signed a directive transforming a narrow stretch of federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border into a temporary military zone, empowering troops to detain migrants for trespassing until they can be handed over to Border Patrol.
Detailed in a memorandum released by the White House on Friday, the order reassigns authority over the Roosevelt Reservation — a 60-foot-wide federal land corridor that runs through parts of California, Arizona, and New Mexico — from various federal agencies to the Department of Defense.
A U.S. military official, speaking anonymously to The New York Times, said the directive grants troops the ability to stop individuals crossing into this newly designated military area. However, active-duty personnel would not be permitted to conduct formal immigration enforcement or arrests.
The move has sparked legal concerns, given the longstanding federal restrictions on the use of the U.S. military in domestic law enforcement roles. The plan does allow for state National Guard troops to operate within the designated zone, a step that may push the boundaries of what is legally permissible in such operations.
According to border security analysts, the order potentially opens the door for military-adjacent personnel to become directly involved in detaining migrants — a shift with significant legal and operational implications.
“The move paves the way for a semi-militarized response to migrant crossings,” said Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America.
Key operational decisions — such as the duration of migrant detentions, patrol placements, and appropriate signage and language for the area — are still under review. The White House and Department of Defense have not yet provided details on how the plan will be implemented.
This order marks the formal adoption of a proposal that had been under discussion within the administration for several weeks.
