Justice Department expands military's power to detain migrants accused of trespassing

TL;DR

The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel has issued an opinion expanding military powers to detain migrants accused of trespassing in "National Defense Areas" near the U.S.-Mexico border.
These "National Defense Areas" allow soldiers to detain migrants accused of entering restricted zones, with prosecutions for trespassing on military land occurring.
The opinion states that military personnel can arrest individuals for trespassing even if they leave these zones before apprehension, citing statutory authorization and the military's protective role.
Six national defense areas have been established along the southern border, with potential for more in the future.
The Pentagon has deployed over 20,000 service members to the border, with Joint Task Force currently including 8,000 personnel who have made 161 detentions in these areas.
This legal opinion is advisory and does not set precedent.
The Trump administration's border crackdown, including enlisting military aid and closing the asylum system, has coincided with a sharp decline in illegal border crossings.

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