The U.S. military has received the authority to temporarily detain and search illegal immigrants in parts of New Mexico. “USNORTHCOM service members have been delegated the authority and directed to conduct installation security support operations in the New Mexico National Defense Area,” U.S. Northern Command stated. News: USNORTHCOM service members have been delegated the authority and directed to conduct installation security support operations in the New Mexico National Defense Area. LINK: https://t.co/3n1TuXpwmr pic.twitter.com/1WUIUOZ9z5 — U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) April 21, 2025 “Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) service members have been conducting enhanced detection and monitoring since late March, 2025, which includes mobile ground-based support to detect, track, and monitor movements of suspected illegal activity using military tactical vehicles or foot patrols within zones assigned by Customs and Border Protection,” U.S. Northern Command wrote in a press release. Military authorized to detain undocumented immigrants in New Mexico https://t.co/4aPSUgotGd — The Hill (@thehill) April 22, 2025 Fox News reports: The move allows the U.S. military to serve in a more active law enforcement role than in years past. Military personnel have typically been prevented from participating in civilian law enforcement activities such as search, seizure, or arrest. As part of their new duties, the service members can search and temporarily detain trespassers on the NMNDA, as well as provide medical care and implement crowd control measures, until appropriate law enforcement can take them into custody. Task force members can also assist with the installation of temporary barriers, signage, and fencing upon request. The U.S. military has been granted authority to detain and search undocumented migrants in New Mexico’s National Defense Area, expanding its role in domestic law enforcement under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.https://t.co/T3ybiO8N7G — Mark Bowron (@MarkBowron420) April 22, 2025 US military stationed at the border in New Mexico National Defense Area can detain illegal migrants https://t.co/VxIn1boNfx — Fox News (@FoxNews) April 21, 2025 From The Hill: “Through these enhanced authorities, U.S. Northern Command will ensure those who illegally trespass in the New Mexico National Defense Area are handed over to Customs and Border Protection or our other law enforcement partners,” Northcom Commander Gen. Gregory Guillot said in a statement. He added that Joint Task Force-Southern Border, the military task force charged with supporting border security, “will conduct enhanced detection and monitoring, which will include vehicle and foot patrols, rotary wing, and fixed surveillance site operations.” The new authorization comes after President Trump on April 11 directed the control of the Roosevelt Reservation area in New Mexico be transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Defense Department for a period of three years to support Border Patrol. The transfer, which made the strip of land part of an Army installation, effectively allows the administration to bypass a federal law that prohibits American troops from carrying out domestic law enforcement on U.S. soil. The move is a significant shift in the military’s role at the border, with troops over the last several administrations only supporting law enforcement agencies and not meant to come into contact with individuals crossing the border. Guillot last month told lawmakers that the 6,500 service members at the southern border were supporting Customs and Border Protection and “are not currently doing any detentions.” But that is expected to change with Trump’s new authorization, with plans to increase the area within which troops can detain and search migrants.