Pentagon Designates Second Military Zone at Texas Border

The U.S. Department of Defense has established a second National Defense Area (NDA) at the southern border, attaching it to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, to enhance efforts to deter illegal crossings. Like the first zone created last month in New Mexico, military personnel in these areas are authorized to temporarily detain migrants who cross illegally until they are transferred to civilian authorities. The El Paso NDA spans about 53 to 63 miles and will be monitored by troops using both stationary cameras and mobile patrols. Individuals caught trespassing in these zones face federal charges for both illegal entry and trespassing on military property, with prosecutions already underway in New Mexico. This expansion is part of a broader military initiative that includes thousands of deployed troops and aims to increase operational effectiveness along the border. The move has prompted concern from civil rights groups over the increasing militarization of border enforcement.