The Pentagon is reportedly developing a plan to establish a buffer zone along the U.S.-Mexico border, which would allow the military to assist border officials more effectively in what is termed the most significant crackdown on illegal immigration in U.S. history.
This initiative, which is said to involve a section of the border in New Mexico, may potentially expand westward into California if successful.
According to multiple U.S. officials cited by The Washington Post, the proposed buffer zone would extend 20 yards into U.S. territory.
The plan aims to navigate around the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts active-duty military involvement in law enforcement activities on U.S. soil by designating the zone as a military installation.
As part of this initiative, Pentagon officials are assessing whether legal complications might arise if U.S. troops were to temporarily detain individuals crossing illegally when Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are not available to make arrests.
The strategy suggests that because military personnel would be holding these individuals on a military base, it would not constitute a traditional detention scenario, aligning with legal expectations.
The U.S. military can take control of up to 5,000 acres at a time without needing congressional approval, which accounts for the gradual implementation of the plan.
A defense official emphasized the importance of precise language in the proposal to prevent potential challenges from activist lawyers.
The phrasing specifically avoids terms like “detention,” which imply arrest, instead framing the matter as holding individuals for civilian law enforcement.
Since Trump resumed office, over 10,000 active-duty military members stationed at the border have reportedly reduced illegal crossings by 80-90%, highlighting the impact of military presence in border enforcement strategies.
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