From Border Wall to Occupied Wildlands: Why the New “Military Defense Zones” Endanger Wildlife and Democracy

New “Military Defense Zones” Endanger Wildlife and Democracy

In January of this year, the Trump administration quietly invoked National Security Presidential Memorandum-4 (NSPM-4) to transfer over 100,000 acres of public lands in West Texas and eastern New Mexico from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Defense. These lands—part of the rugged and biodiverse Chihuahuan Desert—are now classified as “National Defense Areas,” a previously unused legal designation that gives the military unprecedented policing power over civilian lands.

According to a recent Christian Science Monitor report where Wildlife for All was interviewed, this is the first time in U.S. history that a National Defense Area has been established on domestic public lands at this scale. Within these zones, the Army has the authority to detain people for trespassing—whether they are migrants, American citizens, or others the military deems “unauthorized.” Though no detentions have been made so far, a military spokesperson stated they’ve helped Border Patrol detect more than 150 people within these areas.

This is a seismic shift. And it’s not just about immigration.

The establishment of military-controlled zones on public lands sets a dangerous precedent for sidelining environmental protections and democratic oversight under the guise of national security. These lands are not just lines on a map—they are critical ecosystems, home to endangered species like the Mexican gray wolf, jaguar, and the ocelot. They are also vital corridors for migratory species struggling to survive amid habitat loss and climate disruption like Monarch butterflies and ferruginous pygmy owls.

Transferring land management from civilian to military control eliminates the checks and balances that come with public accountability. No environmental review. No input from Tribal governments, local communities, or wildlife experts. No regard for species protected under laws like the Endangered Species Act or the National Environmental Policy Act.

This latest move is a direct escalation from the Trump-era border wall construction, which bulldozed fragile desert habitats and severed animal migration routes in the name of “security.” But while the wall had physical visibility and generated widespread backlash, these new National Defense Areas are far more insidious—quietly stripping away civilian access and democratic protections under a cloud of secrecy.

And the timing couldn’t be more revealing.

Illegal border crossings are at their lowest levels in at least 25 years, according to the Monitor article. Yet rather than scaling back enforcement, the federal government is expanding military occupation of public lands. It’s a solution in search of a crisis—and the collateral damage includes not just people, but wildlife, civil liberties, and democratic norms.

At Wildlife for All, we believe that how a society treats its land reflects how it treats its people. And this militarization of public space reflects an alarming shift in priorities—away from democracy, stewardship, and ecological integrity, and toward surveillance, exclusion, and authoritarian control.

What You Can Do About these “Military Defense Zones:”

• Read and share our full explainer on NSPM-4 and what it means for wildlife and democracy: NSPM-4: The Border Wall Was Just the Beginning

• Contact your elected officials and demand congressional oversight of NSPM-4 and any future use of public lands for military control without public review. (202) 224-3121

• Stay informed and support grassroots efforts that defend ecological integrity and democratic accountability in borderlands communities. Follow: Border Kindness, Defend O’odham Jewed, Alianza Indigena sin Fronteras, Yaqui So Cal,  Armadillos Ni Un Migrante Menos SAR group.

This isn’t just a fight for wildlife—it’s a fight for the soul of our public lands. Let’s not give them up without a voice.