Texas is doubling down on border security with the construction of a new military base camp in Eagle Pass, expected to house up to 2,300 soldiers. Governor Greg Abbott was at the border today to greet the first batch of 300 Texas National Guard Troops arriving at the newly-built "Forward Operating Base," part of the state's enhanced border security initiative, Operation Lone Star. The governor's visit comes as the base is swiftly moving towards completion, with amenities including living quarters, a dining facility, gym, armory, and more to support the stationed troops, as reported by KENS 5.
According to the plans revealed by Abbott, this base signifies a stamp of permanence for Texas military personnel on the border. "This will increase the ability for a larger number of Texas military department personnel in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and more efficiently," Abbott stated, indicating Texas' to boldly assume a role traditionally held by the federal government. This move, detailed in a New York Times article, is one of many steps Texas is taking to secure its border.
The reception of troops at the border is a physical manifestation of a larger philosophical battle over states' rights and federal oversight on immigration policies. With the Republican governors of 25 states publicly backing Texas' stance in January, and amid ongoing court battles with the federal government, Texas continues to assert its aggressive posture against illegal crossings and migration.
The new base will be operational as part of Operation Lone Star until at least Sept. 7, with the option to extend for two more years. A purchase order obtained by KENS 5 outlines these details, further cementing Texas' commitment to what has been a multi-year, multibillion-dollar crackdown at the border that combines the arrest of migrants, state police and National Guard deployments, along with the use of military-style equipment.
In a strategic poke at federal policies, Texas has also taken to busing thousands of migrants out of the state and erecting physical barriers such as a string of large orange buoys and concertina wire along the Rio Grande. Despite legal pushback and rulings from the high courts, Abbott vows to continue Texas' initiatives, describing the state as "the wrong place to go" for migrants, as he was quoted in the New York Times report.
The Texas-led efforts come amidst a backdrop of decreasing illegal crossings, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting a 50% drop in encounters from the previous month. Nonetheless, Abbott anticipates a rise in crossings come spring, reinforcing the need for the robust presence that the new military base camp promises to provide.
