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April 16, 2025

Anna Murray 

On April 15, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum visited New Mexico to announce the emergency withdrawal and temporary transfer of approximately 109,651 acres of federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border. Subject to any existing legal rights, the land will be placed under the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of the Army for a period of three years.

This action follows the signing of the "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions" memorandum by President Donald Trump. The directive instructs the Secretaries of Homeland Security, Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior to seize public lands deemed reasonably necessary to support military operations.

The move is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to stem the flow of undocumented migrants by deploying the U.S. military. In addition to enhancing border security, the initiative aims to protect the region’s fragile natural and cultural resources while enabling the Army to assist U.S. Border Patrol in combating illegal immigration and trafficking.