The bridge linking the South Texas town of Roma with Miguel Aleman, Mexico. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — The military is expanding and establishing defense zones in Texas along the U.S. and Mexico border where anyone crossing the border is subject to charges of trespassing on military property as well as border crossing violations.
The Air Force will establish the Del Rio-Falcon National Defense Area, about a 150-mile stretch of the border from Falcon Dam, Texas, to Del Rio, Texas, a service official confirmed Tuesday.
The South Texas National Defense Area, a 250-mile stretch of the Rio Grande River in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties, will expand an additional 40 miles to reach Roma, Texas.
The new zone will mean the military will have six defense areas in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Creating these military areas allows troops to conduct certain law enforcement activities, including temporary detention, searches and crowd-control operations.
South Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers conduct foot patrols along the southern border near Rio Grande City, Texas, on May 6, 2025. (Crist Joseph/U.S. Army)
When President Donald Trump returned to office last year, he ordered active-duty forces to the mission as part of his goal of making border security a top priority for the military.
Trump ordered the creation of the military border zones to sidestep laws that prohibit the military from conducting civilian law enforcement.
Officials with the Joint Task Force Southern Border have said troops continue to allow Customs and Border Protection agents to take the lead as often as possible.
Roughly 8,500 troops are deployed under the task force, working primarily to detect possible illegal activity along the border. It is unclear if additional troops are needed in Texas.
“We’ve gone nine months with zero crossings at our Southern Border,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a speech Monday at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine.
