In a significant move to bolster border enforcement, the Texas National Guard has recently seen sixty of its soldiers granted new authority to apprehend and detain individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, a deployment meant to support the ongoing efforts by the U.S. Border Patrol in the El Paso Sector, as reported by FOX 7 Austin.
Interim Chief Walter N. Slosar of the El Paso Sector officiated the deputization ceremony under Title 8 last week, marking a transition from soldiers' previous roles which primarily consisted of observation and technical assistance, to a more hands-on approach that includes the ability to actively make arrests and these soldiers, alongside nearly 1,500 others from various states and an additional 5,000 under Texas' Operation Lone Star, are laying the groundwork to intensify the presence of enforcement along troubled sections of the border.
During the ceremony, "The brave men and women of the National Guard raised their hands today and swore an oath to defend this nation’s borders," Slosar said, underscoring their commitment to enforcing immigration laws and securing the border, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection mentioned.
Following the increase in the number of troops and the expanding role of the Texas National Guard, community members are encouraged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to report any suspicious activity anonymously by reaching out to the U.S. Border Patrol at 1-800-635-2509, this combined force operates with the goal to provide critical support, working closely with Border Patrol to ensure that the laws are upheld, in the El Paso Sector and beyond.
