In the wake of the ongoing border crises that the Biden administration has ignored, Texas‘s Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has decided to increase his use of National Guard forces to secure the Texas–Mexico border, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
Abbott has authorized the National Guard to enforce state laws, “including arresting people who have crossed the border illegally and violated Texas law.”
Members of the Guard will aid in the construction of the border wall, which Abbott plans to complete with a mix of state and private funding after President Joe Biden rerouted the funds secured under the Trump administration.
So far, the Guard members present have been essential to slowing immigration and protecting small towns, especially those near the border.
According to Abbott, “the Texas National Guard is playing an unprecedented role to secure the border because of the unprecedented refusal of the federal government to fulfill its obligations under federal law.”
Yet, despite the state’s best efforts, more funding is still needed, especially in the absence of federal leadership.
The governor also urged officials to push the Texas Congress in its special session to direct funding to the border.
“We have made great progress to address this crisis” he said, “but more funding is needed to bolster our border security efforts which is why I am urging border sheriffs and county judges to testify in front of the House Appropriations Committee next week on the need for additional funding.”
If not for the state’s preventative action, the situation could be much worse.
Since March 2021, the Texas Department of Public Safety has made more than 4,600 arrests
Moreover, the state has confiscated drugs and illegal firearms, including over 700 pounds of cocaine, 127 pounds of fentanyl, 8,500 pounds of cannabis, and over 270 firearms.
Last month more than 212,000 people attempted to illegally cross Texas’ southern border, the highest number since summer of 2000.
