National Defense Areas Secretary of Defense
Pete Hegseth at the New Mexico Defense Area holding a sign which says that the area is restricted
Garrison information Occupants Department of Defense
National Defense Areas (NDA s) are military installations designated by thesecond Trump administration at theMexico–United States border which are operated by theUS Department of Defense , where troops can search and detain.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
Joint Task Force-Southern Border assumed control of the southern border mission fromJoint Task Force North on March 14, 2025. The southern border mission is supported by thousands of service members as part of the expanded role of the pentagon in the Trump administrations border priorities.[ 9] [ 10] [ 11]
The creation of these NDAs was outlined in a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-4) issued on April 11, 2025, titled "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions." The memorandum provides for the DOD to take jurisdiction over lands reasonably necessary to enable military activities, including border-barrier construction and emplacement of detection and monitoring equipment to implementExecutive Order 14167 .[ 12] [non-primary source needed
The first zone, the New Mexico National Defense Area as part ofFort Huachuca .[ 13] [ 14] [non-primary source needed A second National Defense Area, The Texas National Defense Area (TXNDA), was announced as part ofFort Bliss .[ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [non-primary source needed NDA 3 covering approximately 250 miles of the Rio Grande River inCameron andHidalgo County, Texas was announced which will be administered as part ofJoint Base San Antonio .[ 19] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22] [ 22] Marine Corps Air Station Yuma .[ 23] [ 24] [ 25] [ 26] [ 27] public land inSan Diego County andImperial County .[ 28] [ 29] [ 22]
The establishment of NDAs is authorized under existing laws, specifically50 U.S.C. § 797 and18 U.S.C. § 1382 . These laws allow military personnel to remove trespassers from military installations. In May 2025, Federal judge Gregory B. Wormuth dismissed charges against 100 people on account that "migrants couldn’t know they were trespassing".[ 30] [ 31]
"More than 1,400 migrants have been charged with trespassing on military territory".[ 32]
Border communities have been impacted by the NDAs.[ 33]
In January 2026, military units in NDA 3 began using Seasats Lightfish autonomous surface vehicles to monitor border crossings.[ 22]
^ McNabb, Jason (May 16, 2025)."Military at the border: how effective is the defense area?" .KOAT-TV ^ Kutz, Anna (May 2, 2025)."What is a 'National Defense Area' at the southern border?" .NewsNation . RetrievedMay 16, 2025 . ^ Lee, Morgan (May 14, 2025)."New militarized border zone spurs national security charges against hundreds of immigrants" .AP News ^ Nevitt, Mark (April 29, 2025)."The New "National Defense Area" at the Southern Border" .Just Security ^ "US judge dismisses case against migrants caught in new military zone" .Al Jazeera ^ "Trump Administration Establishes Second National Defense Area at Southern Border | FAIRUS.org" .fairus.org ^ "US military creates new military zone along border with Mexico" .Reuters . RetrievedMay 16, 2025 .^ Thayer, Rose L. (April 21, 2025)."Troops can now detain, search people on newly minted military land on the border" .Stars and Stripes (newspaper) ^ Hicks, Samarion (March 24, 2025)."Joint Task Force–Southern Border assumes authority of southern border mission" .United States Northern Command ^ Schmitt, Eric ;Cooper, Helene (May 15, 2025)."Trump's Military Buildup at the Border Expands" . Archived fromthe original on May 16, 2025.^ Ismay, John (December 10, 2025)."$2 Billion in Pentagon Funds Said to Go to Anti-Immigrant Operations" .The New York Times the original on December 10, 2025. ^ "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions" .The White House . April 11, 2025. RetrievedMay 16, 2025 .^ Martinez, Luis (April 15, 2025)."To stop migrants, US Army to take control of some of border with Mexico" .ABC News (United States) ^ Lopez, C. Todd (April 28, 2025)."At Southern Border, Defense Secretary Visits Newly Created National Defense Area" . United States Department of Defense.Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. RetrievedMay 16, 2025 . ^ García, Uriel J. (May 2, 2025)."U.S. declares military zone around El Paso, allowing soldiers to arrest migrants" .The Texas Tribune ^ "Defense Department designates a second military zone on US border, extending into Texas" .AP News ^ Thayer, Rose L. (May 2, 2025)."Military zone along southern border established in Texas as part of Fort Bliss" .Stars and Stripes (newspaper) ^ "Second National Defense Area established in Texas" (Press release). U.S. Northern Command. May 2, 2025.Archived from the original on May 2, 2025.^ "National Defense Area established in South Texas" .af.mil the original on June 29, 2025.^ Novelly, Thomas (June 27, 2025)."Largest Military Border Zone Yet to Be Created in Texas as Part of Air Force Base" .Military.com ^ Zita Ballinger Fletcher (June 30, 2025)."Air Force to manage new militarized zone along US-Mexico border" .Military Times ^a b c d Novelly, Thomas (February 11, 2026)."The US military is taking control of more Texas borderland" .Defense One . RetrievedFebruary 12, 2026 . ^ Zita Ballinger Fletcher (July 3, 2025)."Pentagon creates new military border zone in Arizona" .Military Times ^ Thayer, Rose L. (July 2, 2025)."Fourth military zone established in Arizona under the Marine Corps" .Stars and Stripes (newspaper) ^ "Yuma National Defense Area" .Marine Corps Air Station Yuma the original on August 12, 2025.^ "National Defense Area Established in Yuma Sector | U.S. Customs and Border Protection" .cbp.gov the original on September 13, 2025.The established zone, which is adjacent to the Roosevelt Reservation along theBarry M. Goldwater Range and theCabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge , allows military personnel to temporarily detain people who unlawfully enter the restricted area. Temporary detainees will then be turned over to U.S. Border Patrol agents to face criminal charges for violating defense property regulations and entering military property as well as charges for illegal entry and removal proceedings. ^ Toropin, Konstantin; Novelly, Thomas (July 3, 2025)."Pentagon Again Expanding Military Border Zones, This Time in Arizona" .Military.com ^ Vives, Ruben (December 11, 2025)."Trump to set up militarized zone along U.S.-Mexico border in California" .Los Angeles Times the original on December 12, 2025. ^ "Trump administration adds militarized zone in California along southern US border" .AP News ^ Healy, Jack; Dominguez, Leo; Hughes, Seamus; Ratje, Paul (May 15, 2025)."Judge Dismisses 'Trespassing' Charges Promoted by Trump in Border 'Defense Area' .The New York Times . ^ "U.S. Attorney Announces Prosecution of Title 50 Charges Following Joint Visit to New Mexico National Defense Area" .justice.gov . May 1, 2025.^ Lee, Morgan (July 3, 2025)."US expands militarized zones to 1/3 of southern border, stirring controversy" .AP News ^ Blazer, Jonathan (September 23, 2025)."Border Communities Face New Risks Under Trump's National Defense Areas | ACLU" .ACLU
