Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum visited New Mexico on Tuesday to announce that the US Army will take control of nearly 110,000 acres of federal land along the US-Mexico border, in the latest effort to combat illegal immigration and trafficking.
According to a statement from the United States Department of the Interior, the 109,651 acres of federal land will be transferred to the Army for three years, subject to any valid existing rights.
The move comes after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum last week, “Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions,” directing the secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security to seize federal lands “reasonably necessary to enable military activities.”
According to the Department of the Interior, the change in jurisdiction will allow the government to protect sensitive natural and cultural resources in the region while also assisting the Army in supporting U.S. Border Patrol operations aimed at border security and illegal immigration prevention.
“Securing our border and protecting our nation’s resources go hand in hand,” Burgum said in his statement. “The American people gave President Trump a mandate to make America safe and strong again.”
Burgum stated that the change reflects Interior’s commitment to public safety, national security, and responsible stewardship of public lands.
The Army requested the transfer on “an emergency basis,” allowing them to increase regular patrols by federal personnel.
Earlier this year, President Trump declared a national emergency on the southern border.
The Army will also be able to construct infrastructure to keep illegal immigrants, human traffickers, and drug dealers from crossing the border.
The department stated that the border crisis is more than just a national security and law enforcement issue; it also “presents an environmental crisis.”
Nearly two dozen federally endangered species live in the area, which was previously managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The region also contains cultural sites ranging from small artifact scatters to large multiroom pueblos, which could be harmed by repeated foot traffic, unregulated vehicle use, and the establishment of informal trails or camps, according to the statement.
High-traffic illegal crossings may result in soil erosion, damage to fragile desert vegetation and critical wildlife habitat, loss and damage to cultural resources, increased fire risk, and pollution from trash and human waste.
The department acknowledged that some of the land transferred to the Army is critical to the livelihoods of local communities, and stated that the Bureau of Land Management will collaborate with the Army to ensure that “some” uses continue to support local grazing and mining.