Скачать или смотреть 'No Exceptions': Migrants Now Face Military Detention in New Mexico

In a dramatic shift along the U.S.-Mexico border, over 130 undocumented migrants are now facing federal charges for allegedly trespassing into a newly designated National Defense Area in New Mexico.

This 170-mile-long, 60-foot-wide stretch of federal land now falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army and is considered an extension of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachuca. It marks a bold new phase in border enforcement, transforming a stretch of desert into a military-controlled zone.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the administration’s stance clear: “Trespassers into the National Defense Area will be federally prosecuted—no exceptions.” According to the Justice Department, those caught could face up to one year in prison, in addition to any immigration-related penalties.

This announcement follows a visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who stated that U.S. troops and Border Patrol are now jointly enforcing the new military border zone. “They weren't counting on a national defense area. They weren't counting on U.S. troops defending our border,” Hegseth said from Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

But not everyone is on board. The ACLU of New Mexico has expressed serious concern over the legal and ethical implications of using military zones for immigration enforcement. Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Sheff warned that this escalation could endanger border communities and violate civil rights.

This video breaks down what the new military designation means, how it impacts migrant arrests, and what the legal community is saying. As federal troops take a more active role at the border, questions continue to rise about the balance between national security and human rights.