Pentagon Creates Two New National Defense Areas with Migrant Detention Zones in Texas and Arizona, Plus 17-Mile Rio Grande Barrier

The U.S. Department of Defense is establishing two new military zones, known as National Defense Areas, along the southwestern border with Mexico, specifically in Texas and Arizona. These zones will be attached to existing military installations, including Joint Base San Antonio and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The expanded zones authorize military personnel to temporarily detain undocumented migrants for trespassing within these areas, which serve as buffer zones to support enforcement efforts against illegal border crossings.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to militarize the southern border, extending the military's role and presence. The new zones add to at least three previously established National Defense Areas along the border, collectively covering over 200 miles. Concurrently, the Department of Homeland Security has approved the installation of a 17-mile waterborne barrier of buoys along the Rio Grande in Cameron County, South Texas, aimed at deterring illegal crossings via waterways. The expansion of militarized zones and physical barriers reflects ongoing measures to enhance border security despite a decline in migrant crossings.