In a contentious step, the US has begun criminal prosecution against 28 migrants and asylum seekers for entering a newly designated military zone along the southern border. The charges for violations of security regulations can result in fines of up to $100,000 or a year in prison.

This comes after the "New Mexico National Defense Area" came into effect on April 18, expanding the Fort Huachuca Army facility by more than 109,000 acres of federal land, as stated by Al Jazeera.

The zone overlaps known migrant crossing routes, effectively turning parts of the border into a militarized zone.

Critics fear that this represents a dangerous turn in US immigration policy, criminalizing asylum seekers and increasing border militarization under President Trump's administration, Al Jazeera reported.

While international law guarantees the right to seek asylum, the United States is stepping up deterrent efforts, creating major concerns about human rights and legal access for those escaping danger.