EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The U.S. Department of Defense has formally designated a stretch of the southern border in New Mexico as a national defense area.
The designation grants U.S. military service members the ability to temporarily detain individuals who trespass in the area, search them and remove them from the restricted zone.
However, troops are not authorized to enforce immigration laws directly and will continue to coordinate with law enforcement.
During a visit to the site on Friday, April 25 along the border near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, U.S Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized the Trump Administration’s effort in securing the border.
“The cartels on the other side are designated as foreign terrorist organizations. They know we mean business because they’ve seen CBP. They’ve seen our troops,” he said. “They’re out here in Strykers. They’ve got long-range surveillance. We’ve got drones. We’re prepared to detain.”
Warning signs now line the perimeter of the zone. Hegseth said the area covers about 170 miles, adding that this is phase one and will be expanded across other parts of the border.
“We are getting complete control of the border and the military that’s here,” he said. “If you are an illegal crossing, you will be monitored. You will be detained by U.S. troops, who will be detained temporarily and handed over” to the appropriate authorities.
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