Texas National Guard can now make arrests in federal immigration crackdown

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

THE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD WILL NOW BE PARTICIPATING IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT ANNOUNCED THE MOVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
hIS POST ON X SAYING, “IN AN AGREEMENT I SIGNED BETWEEN TEXAS AND TRUMP’S CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, THE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD IS GRANTED THE POWER OF IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS TO MAKE IMMIGRATION ARRESTS. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THIS BOOSTS MANPOWER FOR BORDER SECURITY. “
ABBOTT PREVIOUSLY LAUNCHED OPERATION LONE STAR IN 2021 TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT ALONG THE TEXAS BORDER WITH MEXICO. IT WAS A JOINT OPERATION BETWEEN THE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THOUSANDS OF NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS THEN TOOK PART IN THE PUSH. ACCORDING TO NEWSWEEK, THE STATE SPENT MORE THAN $13 BILLION DOLLARS TO FUND IT.
THIS NEW AGREEMENT WOULD GRANT SOLDIERS THE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT ROVING PATROLS AND FULFILL THE DUTIES OF AN IMMIGRATION AGENT, PROVIDED THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICER OR BORDER PATROL AGENT. THE NEW AUTHORIZATION ADDS ABOUT 3000 TEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS TO THE RANKS OF THOSE NOW ASSISTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
BACK IN JANUARY, GOVERNOR ABBOTT SIGNED FIVE EXECUTIVE ORDERS DIRECTING STATE AGENCIES TO ASSIST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN DEPORTATION EFFORTS. STATE AGENCIES ARE MANDATED IN ASSISTING FEDERAL OFFICERS CARRYING OUT THEIR DUTIES.
STATE AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO HELP BUILD BARRIERS ALONG THE BORDER WITH MEXICO, SHARE INTELLIGENCE ON ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS AND IDENTIFY DETENTION FACILITIES TO HOUSE MIGRANTS, BELIEVED TO BE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP