() An Arizona community has become the fourth stretch of land along the U.S.-Mexico border that is deemed a National Defense Area since April, designating it as an area where American military troops can charge migrants with federal crimes.

Troops are now stationed in Yuma after the Department of Defense added a stretch of 32 miles along the border to be added to the more than 500 miles that are being patrolled by military personnel. The Yuma Defense Area is an extension of the Marine Corps training base that is already in place near the Barry Goldwater Training Range.

Military troops are already in place in the latest zone and have been assigned to detain migrants who enter the United States illegally and will also be assisting with upgrading the existing border barriers.

Like with the three other National Defense Areas that are in place in part of New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, the designation of Yuma as an NDA allows migrants who are detained by troops to be charged with federal trespassing offenses on top of illegal entry charges.

Existing NDA areas have already been opened at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., which covers 170 miles; Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas (63 miles); and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where 250 miles of border land are being monitored by the U.S. military.

While plans for the latest defense area are still being finalized, local government officials are praising the efforts taking place there.

Yuma County District 2 Supervisor Jonathan Lines told that the region has become critical for the nation because of its existing military and food infrastructure. He said that having military troops in place will serve as a “natural deterrent” to migrants thinking of crossing over the border into Yuma.

“Keeping both of those safe and keeping people off of the (military) bombing ranges and keeping people out of our fields is extremely critical,” Lines said. “If you’re truly seeking asylum, if you’re truly fleeing for your life, you’re going to welcome it.”

More than 7,600 military troops have already been deployed to the southern border to assist with enforcing immigration laws along the border. That number is nearly three times the number of military personnel that were being used for immigration enforcement by the Biden administration.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized up to 10,000 U.S. military members to assist with enforcing the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The additional militarized zone comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement is working to add 10,000 officers to its workforce to detain migrants in the country illegally.

On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that ICE is removing age requirements to join the agency. ICE has already offered $50,000 signing bonuses for new officers, who are also eligible for up to $60,000 in reimbursement to cover educational costs.

ICE officials told that 1,000 job offers have already gone out as jobs start getting filled within the agency.

The hiring bump comes as DHS officials told that “assaults against federal officers have risen by 1,000%” compared to this time in 2024. was present in Washington State recently when anti-ICE protesters threw rocks into a federal building and started a fire in the area as a way of trying to intimidate ICE officers working in the area.

ICE has not provided data regarding assaults on officers and does not provide specifics on what the agency considers an assault.

DHS officials have also said ICE officers have been targeted by gunfire and other attacks. Noem said that the acts of violence are being fueled by sanctuary city policies and politicians who are “vilifying” federal law enforcement.

Noem told in a statement provided by DHS on Thursday that ICE officers are facing increased attacks “as they risk their lives to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.”

“We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down,” Noem said. “Every day our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals, including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members and sexual predators.”