Pentagon sets up new 250 mile military buffer zone at border with crossings at record lows
Print Close
By Michael Dorgan
Published June 26, 2025
The Pentagon announced Wednesday that it is establishing an expansive new military buffer zone in Texas aimed at bolstering border security as illegal crossings continue to plummet to record lows.
The zone, known as a National Defense Area (NDA), will span 250 miles along the Rio Grande River through Cameron and Hidalgo counties with temporary barriers and signage being set up to secure the area.
Members of the Joint Task Force-Southern Border, under the direction of NORTHCOM will operate the zone and they will be responsible for monitoring and carrying out patrols. They will not carry out law enforcement duties but do have the authority to detain border and transfer them to Border Patrol.
FEDERAL MAGISTRATE JUDGE DISMISSES TRESPASSING CHARGES AGAINST 98 ARRESTED IN NEW MILITARY ZONE
The zone sits on land transferred from the International Boundary and Water Commission and will fall under the administration of Joint Base San Antonio, the Air Force announced.
The designation marks the latest in a series of NDAs established to strengthen interagency coordination and bolster security operations along the U.S. southern border, the Air Force said.
A 170-mile NDA was set up in New Mexico in April, attached to Fort Huachuca in Arizona while a 63-mile zone was established in West Texas attached to Fort Bliss in May, bringing the total area to well over 480 miles.
"These efforts reflect USNORTHCOM's ongoing mission as the DoD's operational lead for homeland defense, ensuring the territorial integrity of the United States' southern border," the Air Force said.
A 100-mile NDA will also be set up in Arizona, according to an ABC News report citing a U.S. official. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pentagon to confirm this report.
Despite the NDA's being set up this year, 98 illegal migrants who crossed into the New Mexico zone had their trespassing charges dismissed last month with a judge ruling the immigrants did not know they were entering the military zone – and therefore could not be charged, according to court documents.
The new Texas NDA comes as the Trump administration continues to see record-low levels of illegal crossings.
Between June 1 and June 22, there were 5,414 apprehensions at the border, with the busiest sector being El Paso. During that same timeframe, there have been 986 known "gotaways." Both numbers are the lowest ever recorded.
'MAIN HOTSPOT' AT NORTHERN BORDER RECORDS 95% DROP IN ILLEGAL MIGRANT APPREHENSIONS IN MARCH: WHITE HOUSE
In May, there were just under 9,000 apprehensions of illegal immigrants at the border, compared with roughly 118,000 the year prior under the Biden administration by CBP.
When President Donald Trump took office in January, the first 11 days saw only 9,086 encounters, and since the numbers have been roughly similar or lower since then.
In 2023, there were points when roughly 10,000 migrants were crossing into the U.S. illegally daily, as many people were able to apply for asylum through the CBP One app.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Gotaway numbers are now averaging 46 per day, compared to the average of 1,833 per day at one point under Biden in 2023.
Border czar Tom Homan said that zero illegal migrants were released into the U.S. in May.
Fox News' Cameron Arcand and Bill Melugin contributed to this report. Print Close
URL
https://www.foxnews.com/us/pentagon-sets-up-new-250-mile-military-buffer-zone-border-crossings-record-lows
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
17 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Federal lawsuit adds to allegations of child sexual abuse in Maryland youth detention centers
BALTIMORE (AP) — A federal lawsuit could open a new chapter in an escalating legal battle in Maryland, where officials are struggling to address an unexpected onslaught of claims alleging child sexual abuse in state-run juvenile detention facilities. With thousands of similar claims already pending in state court, the litigation has raised questions about how Maryland will handle the potential financial liability. The new federal suit, filed Wednesday on behalf of three plaintiffs, seeks $300 million in damages — an amount that far exceeds caps imposed on claims filed in state court. It alleges Maryland juvenile justice leaders knew about a culture of abuse inside youth detention facilities and failed to address it, violating the plaintiffs' civil rights. Messages seeking comment were left Thursday with the state's Department of Juvenile Services and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. The department generally doesn't comment on pending litigation. An estimated 11,000 plaintiffs have sued in state court, according to the attorneys involved. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said Wednesday that he believes negotiations for a potential settlement are ongoing between attorneys for the plaintiffs and the attorney general's office. Officials have said the state is facing a potential liability between $3 billion and $4 billion. Lawsuits started pouring in after a state law passed in 2023 eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims in Maryland. The change came in the immediate aftermath of a scathing investigative report that revealed widespread abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It prompted the archdiocese to file for bankruptcy to protect its assets. But Maryland leaders didn't anticipate they'd be facing similar budgetary concerns because of claims against the state's juvenile justice system. Facing a potentially enormous payout, lawmakers recently passed an amendment to limit future liabilities. The new law reduces caps on settlements from $890,000 to $400,000 for cases filed after May 31 against state institutions, and from $1.5 million to $700,000 for private institutions. It allows each claimant to receive only one payment, instead of being able to collect for each act of abuse. Suing in federal court allows plaintiffs to sidestep those limits. 'Despite Maryland's recent unconstitutional legislative efforts to insulate itself from liability for the horrific sexual brutalization of children in its custody, Maryland cannot run from liability under Federal law,' plaintiffs' attorney Corey Stern said in a statement. 'The United States Constitution was created for all of us, knowing that some would need protection from the tyranny of their political leaders.' The three plaintiffs in the federal case allege they were sexually abused by staff at two juvenile detention centers. While other lawsuits have mainly presented allegations of abuse occurring decades ago, the federal complaint focuses on events alleged to have happened in 2019 and 2020. The plaintiffs were 14 and 15 years old. The victims feared their sentences would be extended if they spoke out, according to the complaint. They accuse state officials of turning a blind eye to a 'culture of sexual brutalization and abuse.' Stern said he anticipates more federal claims will be forthcoming.
Fox News
21 minutes ago
- Fox News
NYC Dems Embrace Socialism
As seen on Gutfeld!, Dana calls out NYC Dems for nominating a far-left socialist as their mayoral nominee. Dana breaks down the ramifications for NYC and the nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit FOX News Radio
Fox News
21 minutes ago
- Fox News
'The mission was accomplished': Senate Republicans push back against leaked report on Iran strikes
Print Close By Alex Miller Published June 26, 2025 Senate Republicans pushed back against a leaked report that President Donald Trump's strikes on Iran did not obliterate the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, but still wanted more information on the full extent of the damage done to the key facilities. A widely reported "low confidence" assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) suggested that the weekend strikes, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, did not completely destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities. DEM SENATOR PLOWS AHEAD WITH WAR POWERS RESOLUTION DESPITE CEASEFIRE Trump has remained firm that the sites were "totally obliterated," and the White House has strongly pushed back against the report. And both the Israeli and Iranian governments agree that the sites were badly damaged. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee told Fox News Digital that they were confident in the president's assessment and pushed back against the DIA's findings. "First of all, one of the things I'd consider is the DIA said that Ukraine would be wiped out in three days," Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., told Fox News Digital. "And second, whatever the damage to Fordow is, the damage to the [nuclear] capabilities of Iran are devastating." 'NOT OUR ROLE': LAWMAKERS CAUTIOUS OVER MIDDLE EAST PEACE, NOT READY FOR REGIME CHANGE Cramer said that the effectiveness of the bombing, which was carried out by several B-2 bombers armed with bunker-busting bombs, could not be "overstated," and warned that lingering questions surrounding the effectiveness of the operation were just "fodder for political discussion." "I think the mission was accomplished," he said. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., had not yet read the report, but called the DIA's finding and subsequent news reports "bogus." Wicker's sentiment came just after Senate Republicans met behind closed doors with Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter. "We just spoke to the Israeli ambassador to the United States just a few moments ago, and his assessment is that their capability has been destroyed for years," Wicker said. 'NOT CONSTITUTIONAL': CONGRESS INVOKES NEW WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO REJECT TRUMP'S STRIKES ON IRAN Still, just how damaged the nuclear facilities are, particularly the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant buried deep under layers of rock, is a question lawmakers want answered and believe would only come from a true boots-on-the-ground assessment. Senators are set to receive a briefing Thursday afternoon from Trump officials on the strikes, and expect to learn more about the true extent of the damage. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital that he'd seen all the evidence and there was not "an inconsistency" between the president's assertions and the materials he had seen. He said that the briefing would allow lawmakers "a chance from multiple sources to glean what's actually down deep underneath," but noted that until more clear information was available, absolute confirmation of the total damage wrought by the bombs was not complete. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Whether another strike should be authorized should further intelligence show that the program was not fully destroyed, Rounds said, "another strike depends on what the other options would be." "I don't think you ever take anything off the table for the president, but there might be other ways of handling it as well, because we've really opened that place up now," he said. Print Close URL
