Louisiana and Utah have become the latest states to deploy their National Guard troops to the southern border in Texas, joining Texas Governor Greg Abbott in his fight to protect the state. The number of additional troops and the timeline for their deployment is yet to be determined.
Whilst border crossings have not completely halted, they have significantly decreased in the Lone Star State. For instance, in Eagle Pass, instead of dealing with thousands of crossings in a single day, authorities are now dealing with only a few hundred. The Del Rio sector, which is part of Eagle Pass, has witnessed a shift in activity away from Shelby Park, where there is now a 47-acre military-controlled area. However, large groups of migrants are still being apprehended in the vicinity, with an average of 10 migrants per day arriving.
In a dramatic incident captured on camera in the Rio Grande Valley sector, smugglers attempted to escape from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). As DPS troopers closed in, the smugglers drove their car into the Rio Grande River, with the driver managing to swim to the Mexican side and escape. The migrants were safely rescued. These clashes highlight the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement at the border.
Governor Abbott's efforts in securing Shelby Park have enabled state troopers to refocus their efforts on the main corridors used for human smuggling. The National Guard soldiers, meanwhile, are working on fortifying other areas along the border through the erection of barriers. Such measures aim to disrupt criminal activity and provide a higher level of security.
In the El Paso Border Patrol sector, agents recently uncovered another stash house holding 31 migrants, including an individual with an extensive criminal record. This discovery further emphasizes the need for strong border control measures to prevent the illegal entry of individuals with criminal backgrounds.
Despite these efforts on the ground, agents have expressed disappointment that the border bill did not pass in Washington this week. They believe that certain provisions in the bill could have greatly aided them in their job of maintaining border security and controlling the current crisis.
While it remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in the long run, the deployment of National Guard troops from multiple states underscores the solidarity among Republican governors in supporting Governor Abbott's determination to protect Texas and address the challenges posed by unauthorized border crossings.
