Border Shock: Trump Orders U.S. Military to Occupy Southern Federal Land

In a move that’s sending political shockwaves from Washington to El Paso, former President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum authorizing the deployment of U.S. military forces to occupy federal lands along the southern border — including stretches near Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The announcement, made public early Saturday, cites “national security” and “immigration control” as the main justifications behind the order. It directs the Department of Defense to immediately begin preparations for placing active-duty military units on federally managed lands, a move critics are calling unprecedented. El Paso officials and residents alike are voicing concern over what this could mean for the city. “This isn’t about border security anymore — this feels like martial law,” said a local immigration attorney. The directive does not yet affect private property or municipal land, but many fear it’s only a matter of time before military activity increases near civilian areas. Immigrant advocacy groups and civil rights organizations are already gearing up for legal challenges, calling the order a violation of constitutional rights and an escalation of federal overreach. With troops potentially on the way, the southern border is once again at the heart of America’s most heated political debate — and El Paso is right in the middle of it.