The Trump administration is extending its militarized border operations to California to bolster security along the U.S.-Mexico frontier.

The Department of the Interior announced on Wednesday that it would transfer control over much of California’s international border with Mexico to the Navy, citing the "historic role public lands have played in safeguarding national sovereignty."

The new zone stretches from the Arizona state line to the Otay Mountain Wilderness, including the Imperial Valley and border communities such as Tecate. U.S. troops will have expanded authority to detain migrants and others accused of trespassing on military installations, with additional criminal charges potentially leading to imprisonment.

Since April, sections of the southern border have been designated as militarized zones. Over 7,000 troops have been deployed, supported by helicopters, drones, and advanced surveillance systems.

The initiative began in April along a 170-mile section of the border in New Mexico and has since been extended to areas in Texas and Arizona. Officials said the strategy aims to integrate federal lands into national security operations along the southern border.