President Trump issued a memorandum authorizing the U.S. military to take control of federal land along the southern border to address illegal immigration and drug trafficking. This includes building barriers and deploying detection systems.
The Department of Defense will oversee operations, determining necessary activities to achieve mission goals. Areas where troops are deployed will be treated as military installations, with access restrictions.
The initiative covers federal lands along the border, excluding Native American reservations, but including the Roosevelt Reservation. Expansion to additional lands is possible.
An initial 45-day evaluation of the operation is planned. The administration is also considering the Insurrection Act of 1807 and requests recommendations on mass deportation by April 20.
This action follows a significant decrease in illegal border crossings, with March 2025 figures at historic lows.