Military Takes Over Southern Border

President Donald Trump on Friday issued a presidential memorandum instructing the U.S. military to take a more direct and assertive role in securing the southern border, including repelling unlawful entries and helping to seal the border in order to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United States.

The order builds on the immigration policies Trump campaigned on and began implementing upon taking office, aimed at reversing the previous administration’s approach to border enforcement. While it does not change legal rights or immigration law itself, the memo signals a significant expansion of military involvement and a strategic shift toward using federal lands for defense purposes.

The directive authorizes the use of federal land along the southern border including the Roosevelt Reservation, a 60-foot-wide strip running parallel to the U.S.-Mexico border for military purposes. This includes construction of barriers, deployment of surveillance equipment, and designation of “National Defense Areas.” These areas can be placed under Department of Defense control through jurisdictional transfer, allowing the military to take charge of border operations in key regions across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

The Trump administration has repeatedly framed illegal immigration as a national security threat. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced that view, stating that securing the border is directly tied to defending the nation. He said the Department of Defense is both willing and proud to partner with the Department of Homeland Security in enforcing immigration policy and protecting U.S. territory.

Trump’s memorandum states that the southern border is under persistent threat from a range of dangers, and that the complexity of current challenges demands more proactive military engagement than what has been seen in recent years. He emphasized that the United States must act to preserve its national interests and maintain control over its own borders.

Implementation of the directive will begin with a limited deployment along a designated section of the border. An initial 45-day assessment period will allow for evaluation of the operation’s effectiveness. The Secretary of Defense, working in coordination with Homeland Security, may expand the scope of the deployment as needed. The memorandum also ensures that any military personnel involved will operate under established rules of force, and it grants authority to the Secretary of Defense to involve the National Guard if circumstances require.