President Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum on Friday, April 11, directing the US military to take a more direct role in securing the southern border, including by restricting irregular migration and sealing the border to maintain the “sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States,” Newsweek reported.
Why It Matters
President Trump won the election on a campaign that was largely centered around illegal immigration, particularly the increased access to the southwest border during Joe Biden’s tenure. Trump was inaugurated as president on January 20 and has since signed a series of executive orders aimed at curbing illegal entry and reversing the policies of the previous administration.
According to Newsweek, while the guidance does not alter existing legal rights, it marks an increase in federal border enforcement tactics with an emphasis on military control and the use of public lands.
The memorandum is rooted in an executive order that authorizes the use of certain federal lands—including the Roosevelt Reservation—for military actions such as erecting barriers and installing surveillance equipment, which has declared a national emergency along the southern border.
The guidelines will initially cover the US states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, which share a border with neighboring Mexico. The Roosevelt Reservation is a 60-foot (18 m) wide strip of federal land that runs along the US border in some areas within these four states.
Newsweek reported that the memo directs the designation of these lands as “national defense areas” and provides the legal process for transferring jurisdiction to the Department of Defense.
What are officials saying?
“Border security is national security,” said US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. He also praised the Department of Homeland Security for supporting the southern border, saying, “The DOD is not only willing to—it’s proud to—partner with DHS to defend the sovereignty of our southern border and advance that mission.”
President Trump’s memo states, “Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats. The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past.”
What could happen next?
According to the newly released memorandum, implementation will begin in a limited sector along the border with a 45-day evaluation period and may be expanded at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
Notably, the memorandum confirms that military personnel will operate based on the rules of engagement and reiterates Pete Hegseth’s authority to deploy the National Guard if necessary.
