The Interior Department will hand over control of about 760 acres of public land along the California-Mexico border to the U.S. Navy, marking the third time this year the Trump administration has enlisted public lands in its border control efforts.
The parcel of public lands straddles the U.S.-Mexico border from the western edge of the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area — a rugged stretch of canyons known for its unique plant diversity that’s managed by the Bureau of Land Management — to near the California-Arizona border.
The land jurisdiction transfer will last for three years and allow the Navy to establish a “National Defense Area,” Interior said.
“President Trump has made it clear that securing our border and restoring American sovereignty are top national priorities,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in a statement. “This action delivers on that commitment. By working with the Navy to close long-standing security gaps, we are strengthening national defense, protecting our public lands from unlawful use, and advancing the President’s agenda to put the safety and security of the American people first.”
