President Donald Trump has taken decisive steps to militarize parts of the U.S.-Mexico border as part of his ongoing effort to combat illegal immigration and transnational crime. On April 11, 2025, he signed an executive order allowing the U.S. military to assume control over federal land along the southern border. This includes the Roosevelt Reservation, a strip of federal land spanning 60 feet along the border in California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
This move will allow the Department of Defense to use military resources to prevent unauthorized border crossings and enhance security efforts. Additionally, approximately 110,000 acres of land in New Mexico have been transferred to the Department of the Army to facilitate border enforcement operations and the construction of infrastructure aimed at curbing illegal crossings and combatting drug and human trafficking.
While the initiative has been praised by supporters as a necessary step to secure the border, it has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts. Concerns have been raised about potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement. Some argue that classifying migrant crossings as trespassing on military property could circumvent these legal restrictions.
The increased military presence on the border has already led to casualties. Recently, two U.S. service members were killed and a third injured in a vehicle accident during border operations in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
This significant shift in border security policy has sparked widespread debate, with questions surrounding the balance between national security objectives and constitutional rights.
