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The Pentagon has officially established two new National Defense Areas along the US–Mexico border.

Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, a National Defense Area (NDA) is a designated zone on US soil where the Department of Defense assumes temporary jurisdiction to protect national security interests. Within an NDA, military personnel are authorized to detain individuals who unlawfully enter the zone, similar to how trespassers would be handled on a traditional military base, though troops do not perform civilian law enforcement functions. Earlier this year, the Trump administration created two such zones: a 63-mile NDA attached to Fort Bliss in West Texas and a 170-mile NDA extending from New Mexico into Arizona, managed in coordination with Fort Huachuca.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, the Pentagon is officially establishing two new NDAs along the US–Mexico border, in both southern Texas and western Arizona. The Texas zone will span 250 miles along the Rio Grande through Cameron and Hidalgo Counties and will now fall under the jurisdiction of Joint Base San Antonio, following a land transfer from the International Boundary and Water Commission. Meanwhile, the Arizona NDA will cover 100 miles and be incorporated into the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.

According to statements from the Department of Defense and the Air Force, these NDAs are designed to bolster border security by providing the military with limited authority to support immigration enforcement. US Northern Command is tasked with patrolling the areas, conducting surveillance, assisting in setting up temporary barriers, and ensuring that the perimeter remains secure. The operational impact of these NDAs is already evident. Approximately 1,400 migrants have been apprehended within these zones since their rollout earlier in 2025, many of whom have since pleaded guilty to charges related to unauthorized entry onto federal military property.

These detentions are part of a broader crackdown led by the Trump administration, which has overseen a dramatic drop in illegal border crossings. In May, roughly 9,000 migrants were apprehended—down from approximately 118,000 during the same month in 2024 under the Biden administration, based on CBP records.

Equally significant is the steep decline in “gotaways”—migrants who evade capture after crossing the border. These figures have dropped from an average of 1,833 per day in 2023 to just 46 per day in June 2025.