In New Mexico, unauthorized border crossers are now facing criminal charges under specific US laws that protect military sites from unauthorized access. On Thursday, the new US attorney for the District of New Mexico, Ryan Ellison, revealed that 82 new Title 50 charges have been filed for illegal entry into newly designated defense areas along the southern border. This announcement came after a significant visit from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, Michael Banks.
According to earlier reports, in April, President Trump directed US troops to secure the southern border from illegal crossings within the Roosevelt Reservation, which spans over 170 miles along the US-Mexico border. He stated that the objective was “to maintain US sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security.”
This order transformed the issue into a federal crime under Title 50 of the US Code, a part of federal law that brings the land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense and pertains to matters of war and national defense. Consequently, the territory has seen added charges related to criminal activities alongside existing immigration law under Title 8 of US law that addresses violations of illegal entry.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its criminal filings on Thursday, marking the first significant application of the new law. The New Mexico corridor, now considered an extension of U.S. Army Fort Rison, will experience heightened military patrolling and surveillance, allowing the military to temporarily detain individuals and transfer them to federal authorities for prosecution.
The newly filed Title 50 charges can potentially lead to imprisonment of up to one year, supplementing penalties for existing immigration offenses, as indicated by lawyers representing New Mexico. The recent actions by the Department of Justice to push for prosecutions under this newly invoked law demonstrate a unified federal response to border security across the US.
In a statement clarifying that the Department of Justice plans to enforce these laws rather than merely adopt a zero-tolerance policy, U.S. attorney Ryan Ellison emphasized a collaboration with the Department of Defense and the General Defense Patrol to assert complete operational control over New Mexico’s 170-mile border.
