The Texas state troopers sent to the southern border by Gov. Greg Abbott are the reason law enforcement has been able to get a handle on the escalating migrant crisis, according to state officials, who accused the Biden administration of failing to do its job and secure the region.
Abbott sent hundreds of Texas Department of Public Safety officers to the Rio Grande region as thousands of migrants from Haiti and Central America waded across the river to cross the country illegally.
Their arrival immediately began to deter foot traffic across the river, according to the Washington Examiner.
“With our DPS troopers, there have not been any crossings from that specific area,” Lt. Chris Olivarez, spokesman for the department’s South Texas Region, said.
The troopers’ assistance in securing the border has been a much-needed relief to Border Patrol agents, who have been forced to spend all their time transporting migrants to and from holding facilities because of the sheer number of migrants entering the country.
“Literally, we could not have any semblance of control down here without DPS,” Border Patrol agent Jon Anfinsen said. “DPS has thankfully come out here and helped us out dramatically. We literally could not control this or have even some semblance of control without DPS, National Guard, all the other local stakeholders that are out here.”
Meanwhile, several Biden administration officials have publicly disparaged law enforcement officials, including Border Patrol agents, who have been working to deter illegal immigration.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki claimed the footage of agents on horseback chasing down the Haitian migrants who were trying to escape into the U.S. was “horrific” and said these agents do not represent the Biden administration.
“I’ve … seen the video. I can’t imagine what the scenario is where that would be appropriate. I’m certainly not suggesting that,” Psaki said during a press conference on Monday. “Of course, they should never be able to do it again. I don’t know what the circumstances would be. It’s obviously horrific — the footage.”
