In a stunning escalation of his immigration crackdown, Donald Trump has authorized the U.S. military to take direct control of federal lands along the southern border, declaring America is under “invasion” from illegal immigrants and powerful drug cartels.
In a fiery presidential memo released Friday, Trump laid out his vision: U.S. troops will now act with greater authority on a 60-foot-wide strip of federally owned land known as the Roosevelt Reservation, stretching across California, Arizona, and New Mexico. This move essentially transforms these zones into militarized checkpoints where soldiers can temporarily detain migrants until Border Patrol agents arrive.
A New Kind of Military Zone
Under this order, parts of the southern border are being treated as de facto military installations. That means anyone crossing illegally could be arrested not by law enforcement but by active-duty soldiers enforcing military rules on U.S. soil.
This dramatic power shift has sparked fierce legal debate. Critics argue the move sidesteps the Posse Comitatus Act, a cornerstone of U.S. law that prohibits the military from acting as domestic law enforcement. But Trump’s administration appears to have found a workaround by labeling the land “military property,” anyone crossing becomes a trespasser in a restricted zone.
“This is the Roosevelt Reservation strategy gone wild,” warned Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council. “They’re bending legal boundaries to give soldiers law enforcement powers.”
Troops on the Ground and in the Sky
So far, more than 10,000 troops have been deployed quadrupling the numbers seen under Biden. These aren’t just boots on the ground; they’re equipped with advanced tech including drones and armored Stryker vehicles.
Trump argues these forces are essential to stop what he calls an “invasion.” And his aggressive tactics are already showing results.
Drastic Drop in Border Crossings
According to Customs and Border Protection data, illegal crossings have plummeted from over 28,000 in February to just 7,000 in March. That’s a jaw-dropping decline and a clear sign Trump’s tough stance is having a real-time impact.
But behind the numbers lies a bigger question: Is it legal?
Emergency Powers in Play
The Trump administration insists the U.S. is under siege and has leaned on emergency powers to justify the sweeping actions. In January, Trump formally declared a national emergency and labeled cartels as foreign terrorist organizations laying the legal foundation for using wartime powers domestically.
And there’s more coming.
Next Move: Invoking the Insurrection Act?
Later this month, top officials from the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security will recommend whether Trump should invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act a rare and controversial law that allows military personnel to enforce domestic laws in extreme cases.
If invoked, this would allow even more soldiers and potentially the National Guard to participate in arrests and law enforcement operations at the border.
Wartime Tactics on the Horizon
Sources suggest the Trump team is even weighing the use of armed drones to strike cartel targets inside Mexico a move that could trigger international outrage and legal complications.
Meanwhile, the administration has already tested similar hardline strategies, using the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members directly to El Salvador.
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Trump’s Border Crackdown Escalates: Military Given New Powers on Federal Lands