The Trump administration on Wednesday announced the creation of a new National Defense Area along the California–Mexico border, placing a significant stretch of federal land under Navy authority for the next three years.
The Interior Department said the zone, covering roughly 760 acres, lies within one of the busiest corridors for illegal crossings. Officials said the designation is intended to strengthen border security operations and address both national security concerns and environmental damage tied to sustained traffic in the area.
The department said the move was coordinated with the Navy and aligns with the land’s original 1907 reservation by President Theodore Roosevelt for border protection.
The administration has made similar designations in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico in recent months as part of a broader push to expand military involvement along the southern border and reinforce efforts to curb illegal migration and related crime.
