U.S. troops detain immigrants in militarized zones at the border

In an unprecedented move, U.S. military personnel have started detaining immigrants within newly established military zones along the U.S.-Mexico border. This initiative, part of President Donald Trump's broader immigration enforcement strategy, reflects a significant shift in the military's role in domestic law enforcement. Troops are now authorized to temporarily detain individuals accused of trespassing before handing them over to civilian authorities. Initial reports from last week confirmed that three immigrants were apprehended near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and subsequently transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This enforcement strategy has been met with legal challenges from civil rights advocates who argue that it is unconstitutional to utilize military personnel for routine law enforcement duties, citing the Posse Comitatus Act, which typically restricts such engagement. However, exceptions exist under what is known as the military purpose doctrine, allowing military involvement under specific circumstances. The Trump administration has designated two national defense areas along the southern border, moving oversight of this land from the Interior Department to the Department of Defense for three years. This policy aims to enhance border security while promoting humane treatment of migrants. Some federal prosecutors view the approach as complementing existing border enforcement efforts, hoping to prevent individuals from becoming ensnared in trafficking networks. Despite this, defense attorneys and some judges are increasingly pushing back against the application of national security charges for those crossing into these military zones. Legal challenges have already resulted in the dismissal of over 100 such charges in New Mexico, highlighting the contention surrounding these enforcement measures and raising questions about the legality and efficacy of militarizing the immigration process.