Trump’s Border Strategy: Military Muscle Meets Legal Gray Area
On Friday night, President Donald Trump signed a memo giving the U.S. military authority to take control of certain federal lands along the southern border. The memo was sent to the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security. It tells them to hand over control of specific areas to the Department of Defense. This is part of Trump’s larger plan to tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border.
One of the main areas affected is called the Roosevelt Reservation. It’s a 60-foot-wide strip of land that runs along parts of California, Arizona, and New Mexico. It was originally set aside back in 1907 to help protect the border. Now, the military is being told to use this land to build border walls, set up surveillance systems, and catch people trying to cross into the country illegally. Anyone caught in these areas could even be charged with trespassing on military property.
That’s a big deal because it could let the military get around certain legal limits, like the Posse Comitatus Act, which normally keeps troops from doing law enforcement work inside the U.S.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been put in charge of making this plan happen. He’s been told to roll it out in stages, starting small but with the power to expand whenever needed. The memo also reminds military personnel to follow strict use-of-force guidelines. Of course, critics are already pushing back hard on this move. Some say it looks like an effort to sidestep the law and increase the military’s role in civilian matters, something that’s always controversial in a country built on checks and balances.
Trump’s Border Strategy: Military Muscle Meets Legal Gray Area
On Friday night, President Donald Trump signed a memo giving the U.S. military authority to take control of certain federal lands along the southern border. The memo was sent to the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security. It tells them to hand over control of specific areas to the Department of Defense. This is part of Trump’s larger plan to tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border.
One of the main areas affected is called the Roosevelt Reservation. It’s a 60-foot-wide strip of land that runs along parts of California, Arizona, and New Mexico. It was originally set aside back in 1907 to help protect the border. Now, the military is being told to use this land to build border walls, set up surveillance systems, and catch people trying to cross into the country illegally. Anyone caught in these areas could even be charged with trespassing on military property.
That’s a big deal because it could let the military get around certain legal limits, like the Posse Comitatus Act, which normally keeps troops from doing law enforcement work inside the U.S.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been put in charge of making this plan happen. He’s been told to roll it out in stages, starting small but with the power to expand whenever needed. The memo also reminds military personnel to follow strict use-of-force guidelines. Of course, critics are already pushing back hard on this move. Some say it looks like an effort to sidestep the law and increase the military’s role in civilian matters, something that’s always controversial in a country built on checks and balances.
Space Base Commander Removed After Vance Visit
The Pentagon has removed Col. Susannah Meyers, the commander of the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, following Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the installation in late March. Meyers was relieved of her duties due to “loss of confidence in her ability to lead,” according to statements from Space Operations Command and the Department of Defense.
The controversy arose after Meyers sent an email to base personnel on March 31, distancing herself from comments made by Vance during his visit. Vance had criticized Denmark for allegedly neglecting Greenland’s security and economic development, suggesting that the Trump administration would make the island “much more secure” and economically stronger. Meyers responded in her email, stating that Vance’s remarks were “not reflective of Pituffik Space Base” and emphasizing her commitment to maintaining neutrality and inclusivity at the base.
The Pentagon characterized Meyers’ actions as undermining the chain of command and subverting President Trump‘s agenda, which includes efforts to strengthen U.S. ties with Greenland and potentially acquire the island for strategic purposes. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell reiterated that such actions would not be tolerated, emphasizing the expectation for commanders to remain nonpartisan in their duties. Meyers was replaced by Col. Shawn Lee as the new commander of Pituffik Space Base.
Panama Accuses US of “Camoflaged Invasion”
Panama’s opposition party is accusing the United States of carrying out what they’re calling a “camouflaged invasion.” That’s a bold claim, and it’s rooted in Panama’s long and complicated history with the U.S., especially when you look back at what happened in 1989. Back then, the U.S. launched Operation Just Cause, an invasion aimed at removing Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega.
Washington said Noriega was heavily involved in drug trafficking and was threatening democracy in the region. But the invasion left a deep scar on Panama. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed, hundreds of civilians were killed, and many around the world condemned the U.S. for using overwhelming military force in what they viewed as a clear violation of international law.
Now, decades later, Panama’s opposition leaders are pointing to what they see as new forms of U.S. interference — not with tanks and troops, but with more subtle, behind-the-scenes tactics. They haven’t provided much in the way of hard evidence, but their accusation seems to come from a place of old wounds and lingering distrust. The fear is that Washington is once again meddling in Panama’s affairs, just not in a way that’s immediately obvious. Whether or not these latest claims hold water, they show that the relationship between Panama and the U.S. is still shaped by history — and for many in Panama, the past isn’t so easily forgotten.
Witkoff Proposes Russian Ownership of Ukrainian Regions
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has sparked significant controversy with his proposal to grant Russia ownership of four eastern Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—as a strategy to expedite a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. The plan, reportedly presented to President Donald Trump, aligns with Russia’s claims of annexation from 2022, though these areas remain partially under Ukrainian control. Witkoff argued that this approach reflects the results of referenda in these regions, which Western governments have widely condemned as fraudulent.
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters. Ukrainian officials and organizations have labeled it as “malevolent” and “rewarding aggression,” while General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, opposed the idea, emphasizing that Kyiv would never agree to such unilateral concessions. Witkoff’s stance has also raised concerns among U.S. allies and Republican lawmakers, who question his apparent alignment with Russian narratives.
During his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Witkoff discussed elements of a potential resolution but faced backlash for repeating Russian propaganda narratives in public forums. Critics argue that his approach undermines international efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions in Ukraine.
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