U.S. establishing additional military zone on the southern border

Going the Extra Mile: The Trump Administration's Continued Border Crackdown

Here's the latest brewing up at our southern border. The Pentagon is pulling out all the stops, setting up a second expanded militarized zone in Texas, creating a whopping 63-mile long stretch that'll become part of Fort Bliss, right next to El Paso.

Remember the military zone they established in New Mexico last month? Running for 200 miles, it successfully transformed into part of a U.S. military base. Well, now it's got some company.

Migrants caught crossing these newly designated military installations, also known as national defense areas, will be considered as unwanted trespassers. And guess who's gonna be there to show them the exit? You got it - our troops! They'll detain these migrants temporarily until the Border Patrol swoops in.

A small group of migrants learned this the hard way on Monday. They were charged with crossing into the military zone in New Mexico after an Army helicopter spotted them making a beeline for the border and promptly alerted the Border Patrol.

Gen. Gregory Guillot, the head of Northern Command, was pumped about this move. He said, "The establishment of a second national defense area increases our operational reach and effectiveness in denying illegal activity along the southern border." Guillot added that troops can now temporarily detain trespassers until they are transferred to the appropriate law enforcement entity.

This move is another step in the ongoing militarization of the boundary with Mexico, a strategy designed to stem the flow of migrants. Despite the drop in crossings during the Trump administration, the Pentagon isn't letting up.

They've dispatched nearly 8,000 active-duty troops to the border, paired them with spy planes in the skies and Navy warships offshore, all in an effort to comply with President Donald Trump's order back in January to crank up the military's role in keeping those migrants out.

It's worth noting that a large portion of the ground forces here comes from the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson in Colorado - one of the Army's most decorated combat units. They're part of the Joint Task Force-Southern Border, ready to patrol our border like never before.

So, there you have it. Is this a bold move or what? We'll find out soon enough how it plays out.

Insights:

This surge in military presence at the border is part of an intensified strategy under the Trump administration, with over 8,000 active-duty troops currently deployed, along with aerial and maritime surveillance.
Establishing military zones allows for direct detention authority, with troops able to hold migrants temporarily before transferring them to law enforcement.
This move comes after a stated goal of incrementally expanding military presence along the border, even as crossings have already dropped significantly during the Trump administration.
Charges for migrants crossing these designated zones can lead to immediate criminal proceedings, while the overall effect on migrants includes increased prosecutions, deportations, and changes in targeted nationalities.
The strategy's aggressive enforcement tactics have drawn scrutiny over concerns related to due process, with reports suggesting that encounters along the border have plummeted since March 2025.

As the Trump Administration continues its border crackdown, an additional 63-mile militarized zone has been established in Texas, increasing operational reach and the effectiveness in denying illegal activities in war-and-conflicts zones along the southern border.
Starting next year in 2025, migrants caught crossing these newly designated military installations will face charges if they trespass, with troops being responsible for detaining them temporarily until they are transferred to the appropriate law enforcement entity.
The Pentagon has dispatched nearly 8,000 active-duty troops to secure the border, consistent with President Donald Trump's order in January, aiming to fortify the border and stem the flow of migrants.
The military's role in politics has become increasingly prominent, with the 4th Infantry Division of Fort Carson being deployed in the joint task force patrolling the border, stationary along our southern border like a general-news staple.

U.S. establishing additional military zone on the southern border