President Donald Trump’s bold move to lock down a 170-mile stretch of New Mexico’s border as a National Defense Area hit a snag when a magistrate tossed out charges against 100 illegal crossers, as Breitbart reports.
In May 2025, Trump declared the aforementioned border zone, now under Department of Defense control, critical to America’s sovereignty, slapping new criminal charges on those who dared to cross. The area, an extension of Fort Huachuca in Arizona, became a no-go zone with beefed-up military patrols and surveillance, yet some slipped through -- only to catch a break from a federal judge.
Under Title 50, unauthorized entry into this militarized corridor is a federal offense, piling onto existing Title 8 immigration violations. The U.S. Attorney’s office in New Mexico wasn’t playing, filing over 100 cases since early May. But Magistrate Gregory Wormuth, with his eight-year term and apparent soft spot for technicalities, had other ideas.
Wormuth dismissed some Title 50 charges, claiming the feds couldn’t prove the defendants "knowingly" trespassed into the restricted zone. “Words on the signs, the size of the signs, the height, the density,” she droned, as if illegals carry binoculars to read fine print in the desert night. Apparently, clear signage and intent don’t matter when you’re splitting hairs over “lighting conditions.”
Despite the dismissals, the defendants aren’t walking free -- they’re still locked up for illegal entry under Title 8. Actions have consequences, even if Wormuth’s ruling feels like a slap on the wrist. The message? Cross the border, face the law -- just don’t expect every charge to stick.
Trump’s order handed the Pentagon control, turning the New Mexico corridor into a military stronghold. U.S. troops now patrol, detain, and hand over trespassers to federal law enforcement. It’s a far cry from the open-border chaos of years past, but Wormuth’s decision shows the system still has kinks.
The designated area, deemed vital for “territorial integrity,” isn’t just a line in the sand -- it’s a legal tripwire. Title 50 charges were meant to send a message: America’s borders aren’t a free-for-all. Yet Wormuth’s obsession with sign placement undermines the mission, giving border-jumpers a loophole to dodge the full weight of justice.
Since May, over 100 criminal cases have been filed, a testament to the U.S. Attorney’s resolve. But when a magistrate demands proof of “how close” a defendant was to a sign, you have to wonder if she’s missed the forest for the trees. The law isn’t a game of hide-and-seek.
The New Mexico stretch, tied to Fort Huachuca, now bristles with surveillance and boots on the ground. Troops are authorized to nab intruders and pass them to prosecutors. It’s a start, but Wormuth’s ruling risks turning a fortress into a paper tiger.
Wormuth’s dismissal hinged on the feds’ failure to prove intent, as if crossing an international border illegally isn’t proof enough. His laundry list of excuses -- sign size, lighting, density -- sounds like a woke lawyer’s fever dream. Meanwhile, America foots the bill for these legal acrobatics.
Thankfully, the defendants remain in custody, facing Title 8 charges for their illegal entry. It’s a small victory for law and order, but the dropped Title 50 charges sting. Why bother militarizing the border if magistrates can’t see the bigger picture?
Trump’s National Defense Area was a masterstroke, signaling that America’s sovereignty isn’t negotiable. The Department of Defense’s grip on the corridor, backed by Title 50, was supposed to deter chaos. Yet Wormuth’s ruling suggests some judges are more comfortable with loopholes than leadership.
The U.S. Attorney’s office deserves credit for charging forward with over 100 cases in weeks. They’re fighting the good fight, even if Wormuth’s nitpicking slows them down. It’s a reminder that securing the border takes more than laws -- it takes judges who get it.
While the dismissed charges are a setback, the detained crossers prove the system still has teeth. Title 8 keeps them behind bars, and the military’s presence ensures more will follow. Wormuth may have fumbled, but the mission to protect America’s borders marches on.
Trump’s vision for a secure border, with the New Mexico corridor as a linchpin, remains unshaken. The National Defense Area stands as a bold rebuke to open-border nonsense. Let’s hope future magistrates trade technicalities for common sense and keep the pressure on those who think America’s borders are optional.
