Under Trump Military Expansion, Soldiers May Soon Police Civilians at the Border

The Trump administration is turning vast stretches of federal land into militarized “National Defense Areas.” Soldiers in these areas might soon begin undertaking civilian law enforcement duties.

Melissa del Bosque

Pablo De La Rosa

, and

Todd Miller

Apr 17, 2025

∙ Paid

U.S. Army soldiers take part in a joint patrol alongside Border Patrol near Del Rio, Texas, on April 9, 2025. (Photo credit: U.S. Army Capt. Maria L. Salcido)

More than 15 million people live in the U.S.-Mexico border region. In the coming months, many of those on the U.S. side of the border could find themselves living in federally militarized zones, or…

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