Texas National Guard Authorized to Arrest Migrants Under New Agreement
Governor Greg Abbott signed a memorandum granting Texas National Guard members immigration enforcement powers in collaboration with federal authorities.
- The agreement, signed by Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, allows Texas National Guard soldiers to make immigration arrests effective immediately.
- National Guard members must work alongside federal immigration officials while exercising their newly granted powers.
- The initiative aims to address manpower shortages in federal immigration enforcement, with 3,000 National Guard soldiers joining the effort.
- Legal experts have raised concerns about the unprecedented use of state military personnel for immigration enforcement and the potential for judicial challenges.
- Governor Abbott has long advocated for stricter border security measures, including previous efforts like Operation Lone Star and calls for federal reimbursement of Texas's border security expenditures.