Texas is establishing a “base” in the city of Eagle Pass, near the US-Mexico border, as part of a broader effort by the state’s Republican governor to deter illegal immigration, according to Reuters. Governor Greg Abbott announced at a press conference that the facility will span 80 acres along the Rio Grande River and can accommodate up to 1,800 soldiers, with potential expansion to 2,300 soldiers.
Since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, record numbers of immigrants have illegally entered the United States, including several million into Texas. Abbott has deployed thousands of state-controlled National Guard troops to deter migrants and built a temporary border wall in Eagle Pass using shipping containers and barbed wire.
Historically, enforcing immigration laws in the US has been the responsibility of the federal government, and Abbott’s border security measures have led to legal confrontations with the Biden administration. The new military base, located about nine kilometers south of Shelby Park—a city-owned area controlled by Texas to prevent migrant entry—highlights the state’s commitment to this cause.
Abbott stated, “Given the magnitude of what we’re doing and the need to continue and actually expand our efforts… it’s essential that we build this base.” He explained that the camp would allow Texas to “assemble a large army in a very strategic area” and “increase the speed and flexibility of the Texas National Guard in dealing with crossing operations.”
A new Texas law set to take effect on March 5th permits state authorities to arrest and deport individuals suspected of illegally crossing the US-Mexico border, challenging the legal boundaries of state authority. The US Department of Justice and civil rights groups have filed lawsuits to prevent the law from being enacted.
