Donald Trump authorizes U.S. military to take control of land on southern border

President Donald Trump is authorizing the U.S. military to take jurisdiction over federal lands along the southern border to help enforce his immigration agenda.

Trump issued a memorandum to the secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture and Homeland Security late Friday titled "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions." The order directs the secretaries to facilitate the transfer of jurisdiction over federal land along the border so military activity along the border can "occur on a military installation under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense." The order names the Roosevelt Reservation as one of the federal lands slated for military control.



The lands would be designated as "National Defense Areas." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump gives military jurisdiction over federal border lands.