Trump Orders Military to Take Control of Land on the Southern Border

What will the US military use the land for?

Is it legal for soldiers to detain migrants?

What is Trump’s goal with this measure?

President Donald Trump authorized the US military on Friday to take control of federal lands located along the southern border.

The presidential order aims to facilitate “military activities” on lands that will now fall under the jurisdiction of the Pentagon.

According to the memorandum, the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, and Agriculture are tasked with managing the transfer of these lands within the next 45 days.

The order specifically mentions the “Roosevelt Reservation,” a 20-meter-wide strip of land running parallel to the US-Mexico border from New Mexico to California.

Trump authorizes military to take control of border land

? BREAKING | Trump authorizes U.S. Armed Forces to take control of federal lands along the Mexican border https://t.co/7ilbaxw6g4

— CNN en Español (@CNNEE) April 12, 2025

In total, the Roosevelt Reservation stretches for approximately 1,000 kilometers.

The document does not detail the exact role of the military on these lands.

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But outlets like The Washington Post have previously reported that the Trump administration was considering granting soldiers the authority to detain migrants who cross irregularly.

Legal experts cited by the newspaper have warned that such a measure could be unconstitutional, as the military is not authorized to carry out domestic law enforcement duties.

Trump’s decision marks an escalation in the Pentagon’s involvement in immigration matters, according to the EFE news agency.

Since taking office, the Republican president has deployed thousands of troops to the southern border and used military aircraft to transport Venezuelan migrants to the US naval base in Guantánamo, Cuba.

According to official figures, the number of people detained while crossing the border irregularly has dropped significantly since Trump took office.

In February, fewer than 30,000 arrests were recorded—compared to more than 124,000 in December under the Biden administration.