Judge Drops Trespassing Charges for 100 Migrants

A U.S. federal judge in New Mexico has dismissed trespassing charges against nearly 100 migrants arrested in a newly designated military zone along the U.S.-Mexico border, citing inadequate warning signs and lack of evidence that the migrants knew they were on restricted land. Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory Wormuth's ruling is a setback for the Trump administration's strategy, which created a 180-mile 'national defense' area to impose harsher penalties for illegal crossings. Since the zone's establishment, over 400 similar trespassing charges have been filed. Defense attorneys noted the sudden enforcement confused migrants who had previously crossed the area without such consequences. The dismissed individuals still face misdemeanor illegal entry charges, and prosecutors may try to refile trespassing charges with new evidence. The case underscores continued legal and logistical challenges in using military zones for border enforcement.