US Military Takes on More Border Security Responsibilities
And staffing immigration courts
THE WEEK’S US BORDER NEWS IN BRIEF:
This week (December 8-13, 2025) saw significant activity in U.S. border security and immigration, marked by major enforcement operations, policy changes, and legal challenges. Key news stories include:
Enforcement and Operations
The US Military’s Growing Border & Immigration Role: A new White House National Security Strategy would give the U.S. military a greater role in border and homeland defense. A new “National Defense Area” covers most of the California border. Senators documented at least $2 billion in defense budget money diverted to immigration enforcement. Military lawyers assigned to immigration courts are issuing removal orders at a greater rate than civilian immigration judges.
Mass Arrests in Major Cities: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced over 10,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles since operations began in June, and more than 400 arrests in Minnesota as part of “Operation Metro Surge”. The DHS also highlighted record-breaking results from “Operation Catahoula Crunch” in New Orleans, targeting “criminal illegal aliens”.
Record Deportations/Departures: The DHS reported a historic achievement of more than 2.5 million illegal aliens leaving the U.S. in 2025, including over 605,000 deportations and 1.9 million “self-deportations,” which DHS encourages using the CBP Home app for free return flights.
Prioritizing Serious Crimes: DHS is reportedly moving away from broad raids, concentrating enforcement on immigrants with serious criminal offenses, partly due to polling, according to Fox News.
DHS Internal Tensions: NBC News reported internal friction at DHS, with Secretary Noem and advisors blaming subordinates for missed arrest targets.
Notes from Mexico: Nearly 12,000 citizens of countries other than Mexico have been deported to Mexico since the Trump administration began. Long lines continue to form at the Mexican government refugee agency’s office in Tapachula, Chiapas. ICE is stationing agents at border ports of entry to detect undocumented people who might be traveling southbound into Mexico for the holidays.
Policy and Legal Developments
Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) Crackdown: The U.S. Transportation Secretary threatened to withhold millions in federal highway funds from New York and seven other states for allegedly improperly issuing commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants with temporary legal status that remained valid for too long.
TPS Termination for Ethiopia: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia, effective in February 2026, determining that conditions no longer warrant the status.
Immigrant Protections in Illinois: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation allowing residents to sue immigration agents for constitutional rights violations or arrests in or near courthouses, a measure likely to face legal challenges.
Social Media Vetting Proposed: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is soliciting public comment on proposed changes to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to include social media vetting for tourists and short-term business travelers.
Biometric Entry-Exit Rule: A new rule requiring most foreign nationals to complete biometric identity checks (primarily facial recognition) upon entering and departing the U.S. goes into effect December 26, 2025
Conditions and Individual Cases
Abuse Allegations at Fort Bliss: Human rights groups, including the ACLU, sent a letter to ICE urging an end to detention at the Fort Bliss facility, citing accounts of “horrific conditions,” including physical and sexual abuse, medical neglect, and denial of legal counsel.
Release of Detained Immigrant: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose potential mistaken deportation had drawn significant attention, was released from ICE custody after a judge temporarily blocked further detention efforts based on a likely procedural error in his 2019 case.
Key Themes
Resource Strain: Growing military involvement and funding diversion highlight the scale of enforcement.
Focus on Criminality: A policy shift towards targeting non-citizens with serious criminal records.
Human Rights Concerns: Continued reports of abuse and poor conditions in detention facilities persist.
NOTE: Portions of this weekly summary were adapted from a far more comprehensive one by WOLA.org, which you can read in full HERE.
FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)
In Starr County, Texas
1,000’s of pounds of cocaine seized
Smuggling Route Shift Underway?
Through “Operation Pacific Viper”
I am committed to delivering a US Border Newsletter that is not only educational and insightful but also engaging and easy to digest in five minutes or less.
(How am I doing? Let me know in the comments!)
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
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Great roundup. The stat about military lawyers in immigration courts ordering removals at higher rates than civilian judges is pretty striking. I dunno if it's selection effects (harder cases going to military judges?) or instituional culture differences, but that gap deserves way more scrutiny. The militarization creep across immigration enforcemnt feels like something we'll be studying for years.