President Donald Trump has issued a directive instructing four federal departments to authorize military use and jurisdiction over specific federal lands along the U.S.-Mexico border. The memorandum, sent Friday evening, outlines a plan for the armed forces to take a more active role in securing the southern border.
The memo, addressed to the heads of the Interior, Homeland Security, Defense, and Agriculture departments, calls for those agencies to coordinate efforts in granting the Department of Defense access to and authority over designated federal lands. The purpose is to enable military operations, including border wall construction and the deployment of surveillance and monitoring systems.
Among the lands named is the Roosevelt Reservation, a 60-foot-wide strip running along the border. The directive excludes any land belonging to federally recognized Native American tribes.
The document reiterates the administration’s intention to increase the military’s footprint at the border, a policy that began on President Trump’s first day in office. Thousands of active-duty personnel have since been deployed to assist with ongoing security efforts.
Citing the national emergency declared at the border, the memo grants the Interior Secretary authority to make temporary land use changes for defense-related activities. It also confirms plans to designate certain federal borderlands as military installations. Migrants crossing into these zones could be detained temporarily for trespassing on military property until immigration officials arrive.
Though the U.S. military is typically restricted from engaging in domestic law enforcement under the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, the use of designated “holding” areas may allow the Defense Department to support immigration enforcement without directly violating legal limits.
According to the memo, initial implementation will be limited to specific areas selected by the Defense Secretary, with the option to expand to additional federal lands along the border. The directive also stipulates that military personnel will adhere to rules of engagement set by the Defense Department.
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