National Defense Area
| National Defense Areas | |
|---|---|
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Department of Defense |
| [1][2] | |
National Defense Areas (NDAs) are military installations at the Mexico–United States border designated by the US government and operated by the US Department of Defense. As of May 2025, there were two NDAs with plans for more sites, with the goal of attaining 100% operational control of the border.[3][4][5][6][7]
The second Trump administration designated a 170-square-mile strip along the base of New Mexico as a "National Defense Area" in April 2025, and later established a second area in Texas, covering about 63 miles from the Texas-New Mexico border near El Paso as the first two national defense areas.[8][9] Troops are allowed to search and can detain assailants at the border.[10]
Creation
[edit]The creation of these NDAs was outlined in a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-4) issued on April 11, 2025, titled "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions." The memorandum provides for the DOD to take jurisdiction over lands reasonably necessary to enable military activities, including border-barrier construction and emplacement of detection and monitoring equipment.[11][non-primary source needed]
Designated sites
[edit]The first zone, the New Mexico National Defense Area in Fort Huachuca, Texas, was created on April 18, 2025.[12][non-primary source needed] The El Paso National Defense Area of Fort Bliss was created on May 2, 2025.[13][non-primary source needed]
Timeline
[edit]The establishment of NDAs is authorized under existing laws, specifically 50 U.S.C. 797 and 18 U.S.C. 1382. These laws allow military personnel to remove trespassers from military installations. In May 2025, Federal judge Gregory B. Wormuth dismissed charges against 100 people on account that "migrants couldn’t know they were trespassing".[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Second National Defense Area established in Texas".
- ^ "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions". The White House. April 11, 2025.
- ^ McNabb, Jason (May 16, 2025). "Military at the border: how effective is the defense area?". KOAT.
- ^ Kutz, Anna (May 2, 2025). "What is a 'National Defense Area' at the southern border?". NewsNation. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "New militarized border zone spurs charges against hundreds of immigrants". ABC News.
- ^ Nevitt, Mark (April 29, 2025). "The New "National Defense Area" at the Southern Border". Just Security.
- ^ "US judge dismisses case against migrants caught in new military zone". Al Jazeera.
- ^ "Trump Administration Establishes Second National Defense Area at Southern Border | FAIRUS.org". www.fairus.org. May 12, 2025.
- ^ "US military creates new military zone along border with Mexico". Reuters. May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Troops can now detain, search people on newly minted military land on the border". Stars and Stripes.
- ^ "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions". The White House. 2025-04-11. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "At Southern Border, Defense Secretary Visits Newly Created National Defense Area". United States Department of Defense. April 28, 2025. Archived from the original on April 28, 2025.
- ^ "Second National Defense Area established in Texas > U.S. Northern Command > Press Releases". May 2, 2025. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025.
- ^ Healy, Jack; Dominguez, Leo; Hughes, Seamus; Ratje, Paul (May 15, 2025). "Judge Dismisses 'Trespassing' Charges Promoted by Trump in Border 'Defense Area'". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.