US Prosecutes Migrants in Military Buffer Zone

The U.S. Justice Department has begun prosecuting at least 28 migrants for crossing into a newly established 170-mile-long, 60-foot-wide military 'National Defense Area' along the New Mexico–Mexico border. Enabled by a federal land transfer to the Defense Department, this new charge doubles the penalties for illegal entry, raising the maximum sentence to up to a year in prison and $100,000 in fines. Thousands of troops now patrol the area, possessing temporary detention powers before transferring migrants to Border Patrol. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth likened the area to a military base, warning of prosecution for any unauthorized entry and hinting at possible expansion of such zones. Civil liberties groups, including the ACLU, have criticized the militarization of the border and the use of military authority in civilian law enforcement, expressing concern over constitutional protections. Critics also highlight that the zone overlaps traditional migration routes, heightening concerns for affected communities.