Trey Paul, FISM News
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A new military unit is now on guard at the Texas border where migrant encounters are expected to double almost immediately ahead of the end of Title 42 which is set to conclude on May 11.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed the new Texas National Guard Tactical Border Force Unit Monday while laying out his defense plans on the tarmac of the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. At one point he told a reporter “Texas has the ability to secure the border” before pointing the finger at President Joe Biden and adding that if “acting in isolation, we would have secured the border.”
He shared pictures of his announcement on social media as troops began loading into C-130 military planes behind him to head to hotspots along the border “to help respond to this Biden-made crisis.”
Deployed the new Texas Tactical Border Force ahead of President Biden ending Title 42 on Thursday.
This new @TXMilitary unit will be deployed to hotspots along our border to help respond to this Biden-made crisis.
Learn more: https://t.co/Msbp6j2wGW pic.twitter.com/5Z84Bmxf3K
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) May 8, 2023
“President [Joe] Biden is laying down a welcome mat to people across the entire world saying that the United States border is wide open and it will lead to an incredible amount of people coming across the border illegally,” Gov. Abbott said. He also added that the current situation will “cause a catastrophic disaster in the United States.”
Gov. Abbott cited estimates from the Biden administration that show 13,000 foreign nationals are expected to cross the southern border illegally every day. He said that amounts to about 4.7 million people who “will be coming across the border illegally” or more “than there are residents of the massive city of Chicago.”
A report by FISM News this month revealed other sources say “in the first four days of May they have been encountering more than 8,000 migrants a day border-wide.” Those same sources estimate there could be up to 14,000 encounters a day after May 11.
“Texas is doing more than any other state in the United States of America to defend the southern border,” Gov. Abbott said.
According to a social media post from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), resources are being increased at the border as a part of Gov. Abbott’s Operation Lone Star which was launched in March 2021 to respond to a rise in illegal immigration. Hundreds of troops are being deployed to the border regions.
We are increasing resources at the border as part of Gov. @GregAbbott_TX’s #OperationLoneStar. Hundreds of troopers will be deployed to border regions, including enhanced tactical teams and field force operations teams. pic.twitter.com/rBYZ3RndWU
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) May 8, 2023
Adjutant General of the Texas Military Department Major General Thomas Suelzer said the Texas National Guard has executed a multiphase response to Title 42 ending that includes the tactical border unit which is comprised of 450 personnel who are being deployed to El Paso and Rio Grande Valley. He says that’s in addition to the 10,000 National Guard troops and 1,200 DPS troops that have already been deployed to the border.
In another social media post, Gov. Abbott praised the Texas National Guard for playing a vital role in the “efforts to detect and stop illegal immigration and criminal activity at the border.” He also thanked the Texas Military Department for “working around the clock to respond to this ongoing crisis” and preparing for the end of Title 42.
The Texas National Guard plays a vital role in our efforts to detect and stop illegal immigration and criminal activity at the border.
Thank you to @TXMilitary service members working around the clock to respond to this ongoing crisis and prepare for the end of Title 42. pic.twitter.com/cokgxka3yf
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) May 8, 2023
Title 42 is a measure that was created in 1944 that is not often used. It’s mean to give the surgeon general and president the power to “prohibit, in whole or in part, the introduction of persons and property from such countries or places as he shall designate in order to avert such danger, and for such period of time as he may deem necessary for such purpose” when a communicable disease present in another country poses a risk to America.
Former President Donald Trump enacted Title 42 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and it has been used by President Biden since he took office. However, Biden’s stance on immigration has led to a record number of migrant crossings at the southern border even with Title 42 in place.
While referring to Texas, Gov. Abbott said, “We are being overrun by our own federal government. Texas is being undermined by our own federal government and our efforts to secure our border. It’s only Joe Biden and his open border policies that’s hindered out ability to secure the border.”