Overview of the Proposal

The Trump administration is exploring a controversial plan to establish a military-controlled buffer zone along a significant portion of the U.S.-Mexico border. This initiative aims to facilitate the immediate detention of individuals who cross into this designated area, classifying them as trespassers on a military installation.

Details of the Military Zone

According to a report by The Washington Post, the White House has been deliberating this strategy for several weeks amidst ongoing efforts to reinforce immigration controls at the border. Currently, over 10,000 U.S. service members are deployed for border security.

The proposed buffer zone would extend 60 feet into U.S. territory from the southern border in New Mexico, specifically within the Roosevelt Reservation, a historically designated area for border security since 1907. Usually managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, this land could see a shift in oversight to the Pentagon under this plan.

Potential Impacts on Immigration Detention

The envisioned military zone has the potential to stretch from Arizona to California. Journalist Harris Meyer described this proposed military presence as akin to “an internal Gitmo,” referencing the notorious military detention facility known for its lack of standard legal protocols in handling detainees.

Under this plan, military personnel would possess the authority to detain migrants or civilians indefinitely until immigration or law enforcement officials can respond. This shift could fundamentally alter how immigration enforcement is conducted on U.S. soil.

Military Involvement and Legal Considerations

Presently, agencies like Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement handle the apprehension of undocumented immigrants, adhering to the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts active military participation in domestic law enforcement. Adam Isacson from the Washington Office on Latin America remarked that this proposed military engagement would represent the first significant mission involving soldiers in direct interaction with civilians along the U.S. border.