US Navy Establishes National Defense Area for Border Security in Southern California
760 acres of public land in California's San Diego and Imperial counties have been transferred to the US Navy for three years to establish a National Defense Area aimed at enhancing border security operations.
The designated zone extends from the western edge of the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area to about one mile west of the California–Arizona border.
This militarized zone designation empowers the U.S. military to capture migrants and others allegedly on the bases and enables harsher criminal charges with longer potential prison terms.
Since April, expansive portions of the southern border have been militarized, with over 7,000 service members deployed alongside surveillance equipment, according to the Associated Press.
The administration frames the move as a measure to address security gaps and protect public lands. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that it delivers on the commitment to border security and sovereignty.
Border arrests at the southern border have fallen to their lowest level in around six decades, as reported by the AP.
However, federal courts have blocked some related federal actions; a judge halted the deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles, returning control to California Governor Gavin Newsom amid lawsuits challenging the federalization of the National Guard.
The administration continues to face ongoing legal challenges concerning its border security policies.
