No More Sneaking In – Texas Is Handling the Situation One by One!

Texas National Guard soldiers now have the authority to arrest and detain individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, under a new agreement expanding their role in immigration enforcement. This move, backed by the Trump administration, marks a significant shift in military involvement at the border.

Previously, the Guard played a supporting role, primarily assisting Border Patrol with surveillance and infrastructure efforts. In 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott allowed the Guard to arrest migrants for trespassing, but only on private land along the border. The new agreement, signed on Friday with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), grants broader powers, enabling Guard members to investigate, detain, and arrest migrants as part of deportation procedures. However, they must act under CBP supervision and maintain communication with officials via phone, radio, or other devices.

“This boosts manpower for border security,” Abbott stated on social media platform X late Sunday.

Traditionally, military involvement in civilian law enforcement has been restricted by the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which limits the armed forces’ domestic policing powers. The military’s role has been confined to tasks such as surveillance and constructing border barriers. However, Trump’s advisors argue that existing legal provisions allow for military intervention to address narcotics trafficking and large-scale migration.

Former President Donald Trump has already taken unprecedented steps in military deportation operations. He previously used military flights for deportations and proposed using the Guantánamo Bay detention center in Cuba to house tens of thousands of what he referred to as the “worst criminal aliens.”

During his first week in office, Trump ordered the deployment of 1,600 active-duty troops to the border and planned to send more. The Defense Department confirmed on Monday that additional military personnel had arrived at Guantánamo Bay.

The decision has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Texas State Representative Gene Wu condemned the agreement, arguing that it complicates law enforcement operations and heightens risks. “Abbott continues to generate more hate against an already terrified and vulnerable population,” Wu said.

Matthew Hudak, a retired deputy chief of the Border Patrol, emphasized that federal and state agencies already collaborate closely. “It’s not giving (the Guard) blanket authority to stop people,” Hudak explained. “This more than anything sends the message that the federal and state agencies are working together to solve this problem.”

Texas National Guard members have been actively involved in Operation Lone Star since 2021. The initiative, launched by Abbott, has included transporting thousands of migrants to Democratic-led cities and constructing floating barriers in the Rio Grande. The governor has repeatedly clashed with the Biden administration over border enforcement, an issue traditionally handled by the federal government.

Abbott has defended Texas’ aggressive border measures, calling them a necessary response to federal inaction. He described the state’s efforts as a “stopgap” solution during President Joe Biden’s tenure.

The expansion of the Guard’s powers signals an escalation in Texas’ approach to border security, setting the stage for further legal and political battles over state versus federal authority on immigration enforcement.