Trump administration orders expansive military buffer zone at the border
- The Pentagon has established a National Defense Area along the U.S.-Mexico border in response to ongoing immigration concerns.
- This new military buffer zone will allow temporary detentions of unauthorized individuals while emphasizing the commitment to interagency coordination.
- The establishment of additional NDAs signals the administration's ongoing strategy to enhance border security despite a decrease in illegal crossings.
In a move amidst ongoing concerns about immigration, the United States has established a new National Defense Area (NDA) along the southern border with Mexico. This initiative, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on June 18, 2025, aims to strengthen security operations and improve coordination among agencies. Spanning 250 miles along the Rio Grande River in Texas’s Cameron and Hidalgo Counties, the NDA will allow military personnel to detain unauthorized individuals temporarily before transferring them to appropriate law enforcement. This is the third NDA created under the current administration, reflecting its commitment to addressing border security.Since President Donald Trump took office, border security has remained a prominent focus, integral to his administration's efforts. Earlier this year, with illegal crossings at record lows, Trump's administration had been accused of implementing strict measures to deter unauthorized migration. The establishment of the NDA highlights a broader trend where military involvement is increasing along the border, despite diminishing illegal crossings. The establishment of the NDA, covering a substantial stretch of the border, follows the creation of another NDA in New Mexico in April and one in West Texas in May. This series of buffer zones exemplifies the administration’s approach to repelling what has been characterized as an invasion of immigrants attempting to enter the U.S. lawfully. Each NDA will feature temporary barriers and signage to demarcate the area and will be administered by Joint Base San Antonio.The operational oversight of the NDA falls under the jurisdiction of the Joint Task Force-Southern Border, which is a segment of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). While military personnel will not engage in law enforcement activities, they hold the authority to detain migrants entering the zone and can hand them over to the Border Patrol for further processing. Despite this crackdown on immigration, recent reports indicated a notable dismissal of trespassing charges against 98 illegal migrants who had entered into the first NDA established in New Mexico, following a ruling that they were unaware they were crossing into a military zone. The emergence of these NDAs comes at a time when illegal border crossings are reportedly decreasing, with significant drops in the number of apprehensions. In May, just under 9,000 apprehensions were recorded, starkly contrasting with the prior year under different administration circumstances, highlighting a significant shift in border dynamics.