Military-Controlled Land Marks New Line in Trump’s Border Crackdown [WATCH]

The Trump administration is moving forward with a new border enforcement initiative that will designate federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border as military-controlled areas in an effort to strengthen deterrence and legal consequences for unlawful entry into the United States.

Ron Vitiello, Senior Adviser to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), announced the move during an interview on Friday’s broadcast of Greg Kelly Reports on Newsmax TV.

Vitiello stated that by transferring oversight of key border lands to the Department of Defense, individuals crossing illegally into the United States will not only violate immigration law, but will also face prosecution for trespassing on military installations.

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“We’re going to mark that land out so when people cross the border in that area, they’ll not only be breaking federal law by coming into the country illegally, but they’ll also be trespassing on a military installation,” Vitiello said.

“That brings more deterrence to the party, if you will, that the Justice Department will file charges referred by CBP, by the Border Patrol, for holding these people to account for entering the country illegally and trespassing on a military base.”

According to Vitiello, the new enforcement mechanism will begin in Texas, with potential expansion to other states along the southern border.

The plan utilizes existing federal land and applies new jurisdictional authority through the Department of Defense, allowing for trespassing charges to be filed in addition to standard immigration violations.

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“This is about enhancing deterrence,” Vitiello added.

“When someone enters illegally, they’ll now face an additional charge for being on a military-controlled zone. That gives prosecutors another tool and Border Patrol another layer of authority.”

Although the administration has not released the full list of borderlands to be reclassified under military control, officials confirmed the rollout will begin with key sectors in Texas that have experienced repeated unauthorized crossings in recent months.

The move to reclassify border territory is being coordinated through interagency cooperation between CBP, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense.

Legal boundaries will be clearly marked, and signs will be installed to notify individuals that they are entering a U.S. military-controlled area.

The Department of Defense has previously supported CBP operations along the southern border, particularly through logistics and surveillance assistance.

However, this marks a new approach in which the military’s authority over land will be used to enforce trespassing statutes against unlawful entrants.

Vitiello did not specify how many miles of borderland will fall under this designation, but he indicated that expansion beyond Texas is possible depending on operational needs and results from the initial rollout.

The Trump administration’s efforts to curb illegal immigration have included measures such as the Remain in Mexico policy, expedited removal processes, and construction of new border wall segments.

The military land designation adds another layer to these policies by increasing legal risk for those who attempt to enter between official ports of entry.

The Department of Homeland Security and CBP are expected to release additional guidance and maps outlining the areas designated for military control in the coming weeks.

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