SHOTLIST: NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES (MAY 8, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF US ARMY, MILITARY VEHICLES NEAR US-MEXICO BORDER 2. VARIOUS OF US ARMY, MILITARY VEHICLES NEAR US-MEXICO BORDER 3. DRONE SHOT OF MILITARY VEHICLE, US-MEXICO BORDER 4. ARMED SOLDIERS GETTING IN MILITARY VEHICLE 5. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF US ARMY, MILITARY VEHICLES NEAR US-MEXICO BORDER 6. VARIOUS SHOTS OF BRIGADIER GENERAL JEREMY WINTERS SPEAKING AT PRESS CONFERENCE, PEOPLE LISTENING WINTERSNEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES - MAY 8, 2025: At the request of US President Donald Trump, the Department of Defense has signed a new order declaring approximately 110,000 acres of land along the Mexico border in the state of New Mexico as a National Defense Area. Under the new regulation, which came into effect on April 18, 2025, the 4th Infantry Division’s Attack Brigade Combat Team, operating under the US Army Northern Command in the area, has broader authority than previous military units deployed to the border. Anadolu on Thursday, May 8, captured images of armored vehicles equipped with electronic surveillance technology at one of their positions along the Mexico border. Since January, soldiers have been working alongside Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to shut down the southern US border. However, federal laws had previously restricted the role of the military in such operations. While troops were previously limited to observational duties, the new regulation grants them the authority to conduct patrols, temporarily detain undocumented migrants, and carry out searches. Under the Southern Border Joint Task Force, established along the Mexico border, soldiers can detain unauthorized entrants into the National Defense Area, which is now considered a military zone, and hand them over to relevant domestic agencies. Commanders of the Southern Border Joint Task Force briefed members of the press on the newly established National Defense Area. Commanders of the Southern Border Joint Task Force provided information to members of the press about the newly established National Defense Area. Brigadier General Jeremy Winters, speaking on behalf of the US military at a press conference, said the newly deployed Striker armored vehicles — equipped with optical technologies capable of operating both day and night — along with aerial units and surveillance satellites, have brought new capabilities to border patrol operations. Winters noted that illegal border crossings in the region have dropped by 95% compared to last year. “Our goal is full control, and at a minimum, that means 100%. Until we achieve that, our mission is not fully complete,” he said. He emphasized that their role is to help border patrol units see the bigger picture and that, under the executive order signed by President Trump, they have shared detailed intelligence on Mexican cartels designated as terrorist organizations with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to support smarter, more effective strategies. Winters also stated that the number of soldiers assigned to the area has reached 4,400 following the deployment of an additional 1,600 troops, a figure he described as sufficient given the scope of their operational zone. Reporting by Can Hasasu / Writing by Berkay Gur