Defense Secretary Tours Border, Emphasizes Strengthening Enforcement Efforts

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM The U.S. Department of Defense has officially labeled a section of the southwestern boundary in New Mexico as part of the border area. national defense area.

This designation allows U.S. military personnel to briefly hold and expel people who enter the restricted zone without authorization, as well as to conduct searches of these individuals.

Nevertheless, service members do not have permission to enforce immigration laws directly and will keep collaborating with law enforcement agencies.

On Friday, April 25, during his visit to an area close to Santa Teresa, New Mexico, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth highlighted the Trump administration's initiatives for border security.

The drug cartels across the border have been labeled as foreign terrorist groups. They understand that we are serious because they've witnessed what CBP can do. They've encountered our forces," he stated. "We're operating with Stryker vehicles and advanced long-range monitoring systems. Drones are also part of our arsenal. We are ready to make arrests.

Warning signs have been installed around the boundary of the region. Hegseth mentioned that the zone spans approximately 170 miles, noting that this is just the initial stage and plans are underway to extend it further along various sections of the frontier.

"We are gaining full control of the border along with our deployed military," he stated. "Anyone attempting an unlawful entry will be tracked. They will be apprehended by U.S. forces, held for a short period, and then transferred" to the relevant agencies.

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