‘National Defense Areas’ Established At Southern Border in Texas, Same Task Force Presence in Del Rio
- Eddie Martinez
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The United States Air Force announced in a statement the establishment of a new National Defense Area (NDA) at the U.S. southern border along approximately 250 miles of the Rio Grande in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties, TX, near Brownsville. NDAs are meant to "support the Department of Defense’s ongoing mission to secure the souther border", says the statement.
This designated south Texas area is the latest of NDAs at the border, with Areas recently established in New Mexico in April, and in West Texas near El Paso in May. These areas are created by Presidential Executive Order and subsequent directives from the Secretary of Defense.
The service members operating within the NDAs are under the direction of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) as part of Joint Task Force - Souther Border. "Their responsibilities include enhanced detection and monitoring through stationary positions and mobile patrols, temporarily detaining trespassers until they’re turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agency…"
Near Del Rio, Joint Task Force - Souther Border members from the Army and Border Patrol have already begun patrolling the souther border, as seen in video published by U.S. Army Sgt Crist Joseph in April. Though not operating within a designated NDA, their presence in the Del Rio area brings with them the same mission as those operating within a NDA: "to seal the southern border and repel illegal activity via full-scale, agile, and all-domain operations." [1]
The joint task force operations see U.S. soldiers work with U.S. Border Patrol to assist with deterring the illegal crossings. USBP Supervisor in Del Rio, Alexander Allemande, says "We have our federal authority which allows us under Title 8 to enter into these lands that are within 25 miles of the souther border to enforce immigration law.” The video below documents interagency cooperation between those assigned to JTF-SB in the Eagle Pass and Del Rio regions.
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