This aerial picture taken in September 2023 shows the U.S.-Mexico border in San Ysidro, San Diego County, California. (Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images)
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the move directly advances what President Donald Trump has identified as his top national priorities.
"President Trump has made it clear that securing our border and restoring American sovereignty are top national priorities," Burgum said. "This action delivers on that commitment. By working with the Navy to close long-standing security gaps, we are strengthening national defense, protecting our public lands from unlawful use, and advancing the President’s agenda to put the safety and security of the American people first."
United States Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said adding a new National Defense Area in California will strengthen border security and U.S. defense. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
In recent months, the administration has established several national defense areas, including sites in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. The moves were made to aggressively expand military authority along the southern border, including deploying federal troops and expanding rules to crack down on illegal migration, border security and overall crime.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Interior and the Navy for more information.
Bonny Chu is a Digital Production Assistant at Fox News Digital.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-administration-establishes-militarized-zone-california-strengthen-border-security-operations