Wed Apr 30 16:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Military Border Zone Leads to First Criminal Charges Against Migrants
**Las Cruces, NM –** The first criminal prosecutions under a new militarized border zone have begun, with at least 28 migrants charged in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The charges stem from crossing into a 170-mile, 60-foot-wide buffer zone patrolled by active-duty US troops. The zone, established by transferring 110,000 acres of federal land to the Army, has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties groups who condemn its “enhanced militarization” of borderlands.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the initiative, characterizing the zone as a “national defense area” akin to a military base, where illegal entry constitutes trespassing. However, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico expressed concern about the erosion of constitutional principles, arguing against the military policing civilians.
While troops have yet to make arrests independently, migrants apprehended within the zone face charges of illegal border crossing and entering a restricted area. Customs and Border Protection retains jurisdiction over illegal crossings, receiving detainees from the military.
The creation of the buffer zone, a long-held goal of some far-right politicians, allows the administration to utilize troops for migrant arrests without invoking the Insurrection Act. Despite the new measures, the number of migrants apprehended illegally crossing the border in March reached a record low, according to government data. Approximately 11,900 troops are currently deployed to the US Southwest border.
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