In a sweeping new measure aimed at curbing illegal immigration, the Trump administration has authorized the Department of Defense (DoD) to assume control of public land along portions of the southern U.S. border.

The decision, announced through a national security memorandum signed by President Trump, marks a historic shift in the federal government’s approach to border enforcement, granting the military an expanded role in domestic border operations.

At the heart of this directive is the Roosevelt Reservation—a narrow, 60-foot-wide federal strip of land stretching along the U.S.-Mexico border through parts of California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

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Originally set aside by President Theodore Roosevelt in the early 20th century for the purposes of border protection, this land will now be directly controlled by the Pentagon as part of a broader strategy to prevent unlawful border crossings.

“The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past,” the White House memo stated.

The memorandum underscores the administration’s commitment to using all available federal resources to achieve what it describes as “zero unlawful entry” into the United States.

This move grants the Department of Defense unprecedented authority on domestic soil—allowing it not only to construct physical barriers and deploy advanced detection technologies but also to designate portions of the land as “National Defense Areas.”

These areas will function much like active military zones, giving the armed forces broad discretion to operate and enforce security measures without relying solely on civilian border agencies.

In practical terms, this shift means a significant escalation of the federal presence along the border. The Secretary of Defense now has a 45-day window to assess the impact of the first phase of the operation.

Depending on the results, the Pentagon could choose to expand the initiative, potentially bringing additional land, military personnel, and infrastructure into the scope of the program.

“This is a supplemental help that they need down the border,” said Victor Avila, a retired ICE supervisory special agent, during an interview with NewsNation.

“We don’t have enough people to, you know, secure that.” Avila’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment among border security advocates who believe that civilian agencies such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are stretched too thin to effectively manage the growing challenges at the southern border.

The timing of the memorandum is particularly significant, coming amid increased concerns about drug trafficking, human smuggling, and unauthorized crossings along the border.

Image Credit: DoD

Proponents of the move argue that the military’s logistical capabilities, technological resources, and manpower offer a much-needed boost to existing law enforcement efforts.

Critics, however, are likely to raise constitutional and legal questions about the military’s expanded domestic role—particularly in light of the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal law that limits the use of the U.S. military in civilian law enforcement.

The administration maintains that the new security zones fall within legal boundaries due to the federal nature of the Roosevelt Reservation and the designation of the effort as a national defense initiative.

The concept of National Defense Areas (NDAs) is not new, but applying them to domestic border enforcement in this manner is largely unprecedented.

These zones, once established, could give military personnel the authority to restrict public access, conduct surveillance operations, and engage in enforcement activities—raising the stakes both politically and operationally.

Though the memorandum did not specify how many troops would be deployed, defense officials are expected to coordinate closely with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure the effort is integrated into the broader border strategy.

This development is the latest in a series of Trump administration policies aimed at asserting stronger control over immigration and border security, a centerpiece of the former president’s political platform.

Previous initiatives included the construction of new physical barriers, the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and the deployment of National Guard troops to assist CBP during surges in migration.

For supporters, the current move represents decisive action in response to what they see as a national security threat.

For others, it raises pressing concerns about the militarization of domestic land and the potential implications for civil liberties and border communities.

Whether the Pentagon’s new role along the Roosevelt Reservation sets a lasting precedent or becomes a temporary measure remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that the administration is prepared to use every available lever of federal power to achieve its goal: a secure southern border with zero tolerance for unlawful entry.