The United States has established a second military zone along the Mexican border, this time in Texas, allowing for the temporary detention of migrants or trespassers, according to a Reuters report. The new area, designated as the “Texas National Defense Area,” follows a similar move in New Mexico where a 6-foot-wide strip near a base was labelled a “National Defense Area.”
The expansion is part of former President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown. With approximately 11,900 troops currently stationed along the Southwest border, the administration has reinforced its efforts to curb illegal migration.
Government data shows illegal crossings in March fell to a record low, while deportations have surged. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported over 271,000 individuals in the first quarter of 2025—the highest figure in nearly a decade. Notably, over 80% of these removals occurred at the US-Mexico border.
ICE reports also show a 334% increase in deportations of individuals without criminal convictions. Deportations of Indian nationals rose sharply as well, with around 1,500 removed in the first half of 2025.
The agency continues to target undocumented migrants from Latin American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, marking a broad expansion of the administration’s enforcement strategy.