Camilla Jessen
Two newly designated military zones empower U.S. troops to detain migrants without invoking the Insurrection Act.
The Pentagon has announced the creation of two new military zones along the US-Mexico border, in Texas and Arizona, giving troops authority to temporarily detain migrants without invoking the Insurrection Act.
According to US officials, the move aligns with President Donald Trump’s push to make immigration a key issue in his administration.
The new “National Defense Zones” will be managed by Joint Base San Antonio in Texas and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona.
Troop Deployment and Detentions
Currently, around 11,900 troops are stationed along the southern border.
The new zones allow these troops to detain individuals crossing illegally without using the Insurrection Act, a law that typically authorizes military deployment during civil unrest.
Although early results have been mixed, with federal judges in New Mexico and Texas dismissing charges against migrants who didn’t know they were in military zones, some legal proceedings have gone forward.
About 120 people pleaded guilty to trespassing in May, and the first convictions in New Mexico occurred on June 18.
This was reported by Digi24.
Sharp Drop in Crossings
The Trump administration credits the increased military presence with helping drive illegal crossings to a historic low in March.
This decline also coincides with tighter immigration controls in Mexico and the suspension of asylum applications under President Biden’s policies earlier in 2024.
The establishment of these military zones is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to strengthen border security without invoking controversial emergency powers, an approach that may shape immigration enforcement during his second term.
