The Department of Defense announced the creation of two new National Defense Areas along the U.S.-Mexico border, expanding military involvement in immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.
One zone will extend the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona, while the other will be integrated into Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. These areas allow U.S. troops to temporarily detain individuals crossing into the zones until Border Patrol agents take over custody.
The announcement follows earlier designations: a 63-mile zone tied to Fort Bliss in southern Texas and a 200-mile, 60-foot-wide corridor along New Mexico’s border incorporated into a military installation.
The expanded zones are part of Joint Task Force-Southern Border, overseen by U.S. Northern Command. Approximately 9,000 active-duty troops—primarily from the Fourth Infantry Division—are deployed in the region, supported by aerial surveillance and naval forces.
Although illegal border crossings have declined in recent months, officials say the military expansion is meant to deter future attempts and bolster security infrastructure.
The new strategy underscores the Trump administration’s continued prioritization of military support in immigration enforcement.
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