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A2 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 15 april 2025
U.S. Army to control land on Mexico border as part of base,

migrants could be detained, officials say

By TARA COPP and trol currently assigned to
LOLITA C. BALDOR the border and about 4,600
Associated Press National Guard troops un-
WASHINGTON (AP) — A der state control.
long sliver of federal land Troops are prohibited from
along the U.S.-Mexico bor- conducting civilian law en-
der that President Donald forcement on U.S. soil under
Trump is turning over to the the Posse Comitatus Act.
Department of Defense An exception known as the
would be controlled by military purpose doctrine
the Army as part of a base, allows it in some cases but
which could allow troops would not apply here and
to detain any trespassers, would likely be challenged
including migrants, U.S. of- in the courts, said Elizabeth
ficials told The Associated Goitein, an expert on presi-
Press. The transfer of that dential emergency powers
border zone to military con- at the Brennan Center for
trol and making it part of Justice.
an Army installation is an That’s because even
attempt by the Trump ad- though troops would be
ministration to get around on land designated as
a federal law that prohibits an Army installation, they
U.S. troops from being used would have to prove that
in domestic law enforce- A member of the U.S. Army 212 Infantry 2nd Brigade stands next to the US-Mexico border as part their primary mission there
ment on American soil. of Joint Task Force Southern Border Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Douglas, Ariz. Associated Press was not to conduct border
But if the troops are provid- security and law enforce-
ing security for land that is Roosevelt Reservation, is a taking control of a section anonymity to provide de- ment and the whole point
part of an Army base, they 60-foot-wide federal buffer of the Roosevelt Reserva- tails not yet made public. of Trump’s order transfer-
can perform that func- zone that ribbons along the tion in New Mexico, east of Any migrants in the country ring the Roosevelt Reserva-
tion. However, at least one border from New Mexico to Fort Huachuca, which is an illegally who are detained tion to the military’s control
presidential powers expert California, except where it Army installation in Arizona, by military personnel on is to secure the border, she
said the move is likely to be encounters tribal or private- one of the U.S. officials said. those lands would be said.
challenged in the courts. ly owned land. It had been During that period, the turned over to local civil- The military purpose doc-
The officials said the issue run by the Interior Depart- Army will put up additional ian law enforcement agen- trine “only applies if the
is still under review in the ment until Trump directed fencing and signs warning cies, the officials said. law enforcement aspect
Pentagon, but even as any control be transferred to people not to trespass. It was not clear if the added is incidental,” Goitein said.
legal review goes on, the the Defense Department People not authorized to land would require the mili- “Does this (area) have a
administration’s intent is in a presidential memo re- be in that area could be ar- tary to deploy additional military purpose that has
to have troops detain mi- leased Friday night. rested by the Army’s secu- forces to the border. There nothing to do with enforc-
grants at the border. For the next 45 days, the De- rity forces, the officials said, are about 7,100 active duty ing customs and security at
The corridor, known as the fense Department will test who spoke on condition of troops under federal con- the border?”q

Despite a court order, White House

bars AP from Oval Office event

Mexico was to take effect frequently addresses jour- punish the news organiza-
Monday. The administra- nalists, and on Air Force tion for exercising its right
tion is appealing the deci- One. The AP has seen spo- to free speech.
sion and arguing with the radic access elsewhere, McFadden on Friday had
news outlet over whether it and regularly covers White rejected Trump’s request
needs to change anything House press secretary for more delay in imple-
until those appeals are ex- Karoline Leavitt’s brief- menting the ruling; now
hausted. ings. Leavitt is one of three the president is asking an
The U.S. Court of Ap- administration officials appeals court for the same
peals for the D.C. circuit named in the AP’s lawsuit. thing.
The Associated Press logo is displayed at the news set a Thursday hearing on The dispute stems from “We expect the White
organization’s world headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Trump’s request that any AP’s decision not to fol- House to restore AP’s par-
April 9, 2025. changes be delayed while low the president’s execu- ticipation in the (White
Associated Press case is reviewed. The AP is tive order to rename the House press) pool as of to-
By DAVID BAUDER Donald Trump and his fighting for more access as Gulf of Mexico, although day, as provided in the in-
AP Media Writer counterpart from El Salva- soon as possible. AP style does cite Trump’s junction order,” AP spokes-
Despite a court order, a re- dor, Nayib Bukele. Since mid-February, AP wish that it be called the woman Lauren Easton said
porter and photographer Last week’s federal court reporters and photogra- Gulf of America. The AP Monday.
from The Associated Press decision forbidding the phers have been blocked argued – and U.S. District The extent of AP’s future
were barred from an Oval Trump administration from from attending events in Judge Trevor N. McFad- access remains uncer-
Office news conference punishing the AP for refus- the Oval Office, where den agreed last week that tain, even with the court
on Monday with President ing to rename the Gulf of President Donald Trump the government cannot decision.q