Justified as Security. Designed to Undermine Civilian Rule.
Take Action
If this concerns you, take action with those in this situation showing courage. Here's how you can make sure your elected officials and the public hear from you — and can't say they didn't know.
📧 Email Template
Subject: Oppose the Militarization of U.S. Land—This Is a Red Line
Dear [Senator/Representative] [Last Name],
I’m writing to demand that you speak out against the executive order placing the Roosevelt Reservation—federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border—under military control.
This is not about border security. It is a deliberate expansion of executive power, achieved by reclassifying public land as a military base and granting active-duty troops the authority to operate on U.S. soil. No congressional debate. No public input. Just a unilateral move to give the military enforcement power over civilians—on American land.
This crosses a line. The Posse Comitatus Act was written to keep military force out of civilian life. That principle is now being tested. If we accept this reclassification without resistance, we open the door to permanent military enforcement zones—not just at the border, but wherever the president declares a threat.
And it’s not just civilians at risk. This move is also unfair to the military. Our armed forces are trained to defend the nation from external threats—not to police American communities. Forcing them into this role compromises their mission, erodes public trust, and entangles them in a political agenda that risks long-term damage to the institution itself.
This is how authoritarianism advances: quietly, and with just enough plausible justification to discourage outrage.
I urge you to oppose this order publicly, demand immediate oversight, and make clear that using the U.S. military as a domestic police force is unacceptable in any democracy.
This isn’t just a policy disagreement. It’s a test of whether civilian rule still holds in the United States. I’m asking you to meet this moment—not with silence, but with action.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
☎️ Phone Script
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, State].
I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative] [Last Name] to speak out against the executive order placing part of the U.S.–Mexico border under military control. Turning public land into a National Defense Area undermines civilian oversight and violates the spirit of the Posse Comitatus Act.
This isn’t just about border policy—it’s about creeping authoritarianism. I want to see my elected officials protect constitutional boundaries and push back against this dangerous overreach. Thank you.
📣 Sample Social Media Post
Trump just gave the military control over public land at the border—no debate, no oversight. This isn’t security. It’s a warning. Civilians should not be policed by troops. We need action now. #NoMilitaryZones #AuthoritarianWarning #BiggerThanMe #DefendDemocracy
https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c082de60-99b8-45b5-b543-80cdbfaf6ded/
Stay Loud, Stay Kind!
Let everyone see protecting is an American right, and you are showing everyone what democracy looks like.
Sources
Associated Press. (2025, April 17). Trump administration puts strip of land along U.S.-Mexico border under military control. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/border-trump-roosevelt-military-immigration-85974188a51593351eed70ad26291888
Department of Defense. (2025, April 16). At Southern Border, Defense Secretary Visits Newly Created National Defense Area. U.S. Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4166835/at-southern-border-defense-secretary-visits-newly-created-national-defense-area/
Friedman, G. (2025, April 18). The U.S. military just took control of a 60-foot strip along the southern border—here’s why it matters. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/us-mexico-southern-border-roosevelt-reservation-military-control-2025-4
Snyder, T. (2017). On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. Tim Duggan Books.
