Pentagon Strengthens Border Security with New Military Buffer Zone in Texas
On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced the creation of a new military buffer zone in Texas designed to enhance border security. This initiative comes as illegal crossings have dropped significantly.
The new National Defense Area (NDA) will stretch 250 miles along the Rio Grande River, covering Cameron and Hidalgo counties. Temporary barriers and signs will be installed to secure the region.
The Joint Task Force-Southern Border, under NORTHCOM, will oversee operations in this zone. While they won’t have law enforcement authority, they can detain individuals crossing the border illegally and hand them over to Border Patrol.
This step is part of a broader effort by the military to improve coordination and security along the southern border. Just earlier this year, similar NDAs were established in New Mexico, Arizona, and West Texas, totaling over 480 miles of secured areas.
The Air Force stated, "These efforts reflect USNORTHCOM’s ongoing mission as the Department of Defense’s operational lead for homeland defense, ensuring the security of the United States’ southern border." Additionally, a 100-mile NDA is expected to be set up in Arizona.
Interestingly, despite the establishment of these military zones, a federal judge recently dismissed trespassing charges against 98 migrants who crossed into New Mexico’s NDA, ruling they were not aware they entered a military area.
The new Texas NDA comes at a time when illegal crossings have reached record lows. From June 1 to June 22, authorities recorded 5,414 apprehensions at the border, with El Paso being the busiest area. During the same period, there were 986 known "gotaways," both of which are the lowest numbers ever documented.
In May, the number of illegal immigrant apprehensions stood at just under 9,000, a stark contrast to the approximately 118,000 recorded in the same month last year under the previous administration.
When President Trump began his term, there were only 9,086 encounters in the first 11 days, and the numbers remained low as his administration took action. In 2023, there were instances of up to 10,000 migrants attempting to cross illegally daily.
Currently, average "gotaway" numbers have fallen to 46 per day, compared to an average of 1,833 under the previous administration.
Tom Homan, the border czar, reported that no illegal migrants were released into the U.S. in May, highlighting the effectiveness of current border security measures.
This new military initiative represents a significant step toward safeguarding America’s borders and reinforcing national security during challenging times.
