Anticipated Military Announcement Reveals Two New Regions for Service Personnel to Hold Migrants Along the Southern Border, According to Sources
Get the lowdown on the latest border security moves by the US military! This week, both the Navy and Air Force are expected to announce the establishment of two additional Military Zones along the southern US border. These new zones will join a growing list of National Defense Areas (NDAs), bringing the total count to four.
So, where are these new zones popping up? Here's the breakdown:
- Joint Base San Antonio, Texas - Roughly 250 miles of the Rio Grande River will be covered, making this NDA part of one of the busiest military bases in the US.
- Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona - This one will stretch over 100 miles along the border.
By establishing these new zones, the government is beefing up border security and strengthening their operational reach. According to the US Northern Command commander, Gen. Gregory Guillot, these zones will enable the military to effectively prevent illegal activities along the border.
However, this expansion has sparked criticism from some lawmakers, who argue that it allows military forces to act as de facto border police, potentially skirting the Posse Comitatus Act. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, for instance, stated that the NDAs "evade the long-standing protections of the Posse Comitatus Act by allowing military forces to temporarily detain migrants before handing them over to Customs and Border Protection."
Despite these concerns, the military personnel within these zones are explicitly restricted from carrying out law enforcement duties. Instead, their role will be limited to temporarily detaining migrants who trespass onto the NDAs, conducting cursory searches, and crowd control measures.
Following the establishment of these new zones, service members have begun detaining migrants. In recent months, the Department of Justice has secured its first convictions related to trespassing in NDAs, with two individuals pleading guilty to charges including trespassing into the New Mexico National Defense Area.
It's important to note that the establishment of these new zones is not unprecedented. In May, a 63-mile National Defense Area was established at Fort Bliss, Texas, followed by a 170-mile zone at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, in April.
These new Military Zones are just another piece of the puzzle in the ongoing effort to secure the southern border. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates and developments.
Sources:1. https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/562558-pentagon-to-create-fourth-military-zone-along-us-mexico-border2. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-moves-treat-border-zone-military-jurisdiction-overstaff-2021-07-30/3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/29/pentagon-border-zones-military-powers/4. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/07/28/pentagon-expand-military-border-zones-southwest.html
- The establishment of two new Military Zones in Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona, falls under the broader context of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, given the political implications and legal debates surrounding border security.
- The increase in Military Zones along the southern US border, with the inclusion of crime-and-justice issues such as trespassing convictions in National Defense Areas, contributes to the general-news discourse, highlighting the importance of border security and the role of law enforcement.
