U.S. military personnel now have the authority to detain and search illegal immigrants in New Mexico after President Trump transferred control of border land from the Interior Department to the Defense Department.
The move, announced Monday by U.S. Northern Command, designates a 170-mile stretch along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Arizona’s Fort Huachuca, allowing troops to operate outside the constraints of federal laws that limit military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
Service members can temporarily detain trespassers, provide medical assistance, and implement crowd control until customs officials take custody, marking a significant shift from their previous supporting role at the border.
The White House indicated similar authority will soon extend to parts of Texas.
