Trump authorizes military use of public land along southern border
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SUMMARY
On April 11th President Trump signed a memorandum titled “Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border,” handing the Pentagon control of federal lands across California, Arizona, and New Mexico to supercharge his immigration crackdown. The order taps Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to designate these areas—including the 60-foot-wide Roosevelt Reservation—as “National Defense Areas” for military use, skipping Native American reservations. Trump’s memo cites “threats” to U.S. sovereignty, greenlighting border wall construction and surveillance gear. It’s set for a 45-day review after a phased rollout. Right after his January 20 return to the White House, Trump declared a national emergency at the border, deploying troops alongside state police and National Guard. Border Patrol data shows illegal crossings plummeted to 7,200 in March 2025, down from a 155,000 monthly average over the prior four years. With crossings at a 25-year low, Trump’s flexing muscle to keep the border tight.
