Interior designates 760-acre California border defense zone under Navy control for 3 years
The Department of the Interior has designated roughly 760 acres of federal land along the California–Mexico border in San Diego and Imperial counties as a border-defense zone to be placed under U.S. Navy control for three years. The corridor, running from the western boundary of the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area to about one mile west of the California–Arizona line, was justified by Interior citing a 1907 reservation by President Theodore Roosevelt and, coordinated with the Navy, said it responds to heavy illegal-crossing traffic and related national-security and environmental concerns — a move Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said advances President Trump’s border-security and national-defense priorities.
📌 Key Facts
- The Interior Department designated roughly 760 acres in San Diego and Imperial Counties as a border defense zone and placed it under Navy jurisdiction for three years.
- The zone runs from the western boundary of the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area to about one mile west of the California–Arizona state line.
- Interior cited the land’s 1907 reservation by President Theodore Roosevelt for border protection as the legal/historical basis and said the move was coordinated with the Navy.
- Interior described the corridor as experiencing heavy illegal-crossing traffic that poses national security challenges and contributes to environmental degradation.
- The department said militarizing the area under Navy control will strengthen border security and help minimize ecological damage.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the action advances President Trump’s top priorities on border security and national defense.
📰 Sources (2)
Trump administration establishes militarized zone in California: "Strengthen border security operations"
New information:
- Scope: roughly 760 acres in San Diego and Imperial Counties placed under Navy jurisdiction.
- Geography: zone runs from the western boundary of the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area to about one mile west of the California–Arizona state line.
- Duration: Navy control is set for three years.
- Legal/history: Interior cites the land’s 1907 reservation by President Theodore Roosevelt for border protection and says the move was coordinated with the Navy.
- Rationale: Interior links the corridor’s heavy illegal-crossing traffic to national security challenges and environmental degradation; says militarizing the area will minimize ecological damage.
- Official quote: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says the action advances President Trump’s top national priorities on border security and national defense.