U.S. Expands Military Zone at Southern Border, 28 Migrants Detained

The U.S. has established new military zones along the southern border, including a 170-mile stretch in New Mexico and an additional 63-mile area in Texas, as part of an intensified strategy to curb migrant crossings. Migrants apprehended in these zones now face unprecedented charges of trespassing on national defense areas, in addition to traditional immigration violations, potentially resulting in harsher penalties such as longer jail terms and higher fines. U.S. troops, working in coordination with Border Patrol, have been authorized to detain individuals within these areas until law enforcement arrives. Federal prosecutors have already charged 28 migrants under these new rules, marking a significant shift in enforcement tactics. The move has sparked criticism from civil rights groups, particularly the ACLU, which warns that military involvement in civilian law enforcement at the border raises serious legal and constitutional concerns. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and military officials have defended the expansion as necessary for national security, while its full legal and operational implications remain under scrutiny.