Fri May 16 13:00:00 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary of the text:**
The Trump administration created National Defense Areas along the Southwest border, considered extensions of an Arizona military base. Ninety-eight undocumented migrants were arrested for trespassing in the New Mexico area, which mostly stretches 60 feet into U.S. territory. A federal magistrate judge dismissed the trespassing charges, ruling that the government failed to prove the migrants knew they were entering a restricted military zone, given the terrain and lack of evidence they saw posted signs. The judge’s decision only dismisses two charges faced by the migrants, the misdemeanor charge of entering the U.S. illegally remains. The military is allowed to temporarily detain anyone who enters the marked area and then turned over to local law enforcement.
**Here’s a rewrite as a news article:**
**Judge Dismisses Trespassing Charges Against Migrants in New Mexico Border Zone**
**LAS CRUCES, NM** – A federal magistrate judge has dismissed trespassing charges against 98 undocumented migrants arrested in the newly established National Defense Area (NDA) along the New Mexico-Mexico border. U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory B. Wormuth ruled Wednesday that the government failed to prove the migrants knowingly entered the restricted area, which the Trump administration considers an extension of Fort Huachuca Army base in Arizona.
The NDA, stretching 170 miles across public land in New Mexico, is a zone that in most locations extends approximately 60 feet into U.S. territory. According to court documents, the military had posted signs in English and Spanish stating it was a restricted area, unauthorized entry is prohibited.
Judge Wormuth, in his ruling, stated that “Beyond the reference to signage, the United States provides no facts from which one could reasonably conclude that the Defendant knew he was entering the NMNDA.” He cited the difficult and mountainous terrain and the lack of evidence proving the individuals saw the posted warnings.
The dismissal applies to charges of violating a security regulation and entering military property for an unlawful purpose. A third misdemeanor charge of entering the U.S. illegally remains. Federal prosecutors have the option to refile the trespassing charges.
President Trump announced the creation of the NDAs last month as part of a military mission to secure the Southern border. The military is authorized to temporarily detain individuals within the designated areas and turn them over to local law enforcement.
According to Maj. Geoffrey Carmichael, spokesman for Joint Task Force Southern Border, more than 150 unauthorized trespassers have been detected within both the New Mexico and Texas NDAs. The U.S. military has not detained or apprehended any trespassers.
First Piper 