U.S. Troops Given Authority to Detain Migrants in New Mexico as Military Role in Southern Border Expands Further

U.S. troops have been authorized to temporarily detain and search migrants within a designated area of New Mexico, marking a new phase in the military's involvement at the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to the U.S. Northern Command (Northcom), this is the first time that service members "have been delegated the authority" to conduct security support operations in the New Mexico National Defense Area, a zone that runs along the southern border.

"Through these enhanced authorities, U.S. Northern Command will ensure those who illegally trespass in the New Mexico National Defense Area are handed over to Customs and Border Protection or our other law enforcement partners," Northcom Commander Gen. Gregory Guillot said in a statement, The Hill reported.

The decision follows President Donald Trump's April 11 order transferring control of the Roosevelt Reservation, a federally owned strip of land running along the border in New Mexico, from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Defense for a period of three years. The land is now part of an Army installation associated with Fort Huachuca in Arizona, allowing military personnel to conduct security operations typically reserved for law enforcement.

The zone now spans more than 170 miles of borderland in New Mexico, and the White House has indicated that over 90 miles of additional territory in Texas will soon be subjected to a similar designation. Guillot noted that troops would also increase surveillance through foot patrols, vehicle monitoring, helicopters, and fixed surveillance equipment.

The announcement represents a departure from the long-standing prohibition on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. However, by converting the border zone into a military-controlled area, the administration is effectively circumventing those legal constraints.

Broader military deployments have also been taking place in recent weeks. The Navy has dispatched guided-missile destroyers such as the USS Stockdale and USS Gravely to patrol maritime areas near the border. These ships carry Coast Guard law enforcement teams and are tasked with border-related missions under a "coordinated, multi-domain strategy," according to the Navy.

Officials have also confirmed the deployment of radar systems in Arizona and increased surveillance in response to frequent incursions by cartel-operated drones.