Trump Admin Weighs Plan for Active-Duty Troops to Hold Migrants at Southern Border
The Trump administration is reportedly considering plans to have the military take control of a buffer zone along the southern border, allowing active-duty US troops to temporarily hold migrants who cross into the country illegally.
According to a report by The Washington Post, evaluations of the plan have been ongoing for several weeks, with a focus on a section of the border in New Mexico. The proposal would turn the buffer zone into a satellite military installation, potentially expanding the Department of Defense’s budget authority to fund border security efforts. If implemented, the buffer zone—measuring 60 feet deep—could eventually extend west to California.
Legal concerns have been raised regarding the plan, as critics argue it could violate the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal law that restricts active-duty troops from engaging in most law enforcement activities. The administration has been working to address these concerns by ensuring that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents take custody of migrants once they are detained.
The Washington Post also reported that senior Pentagon officials have asked military officers to assess possible legal complications if US troops were to temporarily hold illegal border crossers in situations where CBP agents are not immediately available. The administration argues that such actions would be similar to how service members detain trespassers on military bases, with troops simply holding them until law enforcement arrives.
“It’s very, very careful on that wording,” a defense official with knowledge of the discussions told the outlet. “It’s not ‘detention’ because once you go into detention it has the connotations of being detained for arrest. This is holding for civilian law enforcement.”
It remains unclear whether President Trump will approve the plan, though officials reportedly see strategic value in creating a national defense zone at the border. Such a designation could result in harsher penalties for illegal crossings, including expedited deportations.
