About 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton in Southern California recently deployed to Yuma, Arizona, marking one of the latest military reinforcements along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to base officials, the unit's mission includes:
- Strengthening physical barriers
- Installing signage along patrol routes
- Monitoring and detecting cross-border activity
While these troops are equipped with military-grade tools, they are not authorized to perform civilian law enforcement duties such as searches, seizures or arrests. Instead, their presence supports civilian law enforcement efforts by enhancing surveillance and deterrence.
This deployment continues a pattern seen over the past year under President Donald Trump, who has designated parts of the border as National Defense Areas (NDAs). Near Yuma, the NDA status transfers land to the Department of Defense for patrols and upgrades that include drones, sensors, razor wire and wall segments.
Within an NDA, military personnel can detain individuals suspected of trespassing on federally controlled sites before handing them over to federal law enforcement on potential trespassing charges. The newest NDA zones stretch across California's Imperial County and the eastern reaches of San Diego County.
As migration and security challenges persist, these joint efforts illustrate a continued reliance on armed forces to bolster border operations. For global observers, the strategy raises questions about the evolving role of military assets in domestic security missions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
