Trump’s deportation force just got much stronger.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has taken a bold step in the fight to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, authorizing the state’s National Guard to assist with the arrest of illegal immigrants. This move is a direct response to the ongoing border crisis and aligns with the Trump administration’s goal of strengthening deportation efforts. Abbott’s decision comes as part of an agreement with the federal government to provide much-needed manpower in the face of the Biden administration’s lack of action on immigration enforcement.
In a recent interview, Governor Abbott explained that the Trump administration reached out to Texas, asking if the state would be willing to provide more direct support at the border. Without hesitation, Abbott agreed, emphasizing that the National Guard’s role would be crucial to filling the void left by insufficient federal resources. While the National Guard has been stationed at the border for years, they previously lacked the authority to make arrests and carry out immigration enforcement tasks like federal officials.
Under this new agreement, the Texas National Guard will be granted full powers to detain and arrest illegal immigrants, working in tandem with Customs and Border Protection to bolster immigration law enforcement. Abbott stated that this initiative is necessary to address the severe manpower shortages affecting agencies like ICE and Border Patrol, which are essential to safeguarding the nation’s borders. By deploying additional personnel, Texas is helping to ensure the effective enforcement of immigration laws—something Abbott sees as vital for the state and the country.
Governor Abbott’s leadership in launching “Operation Lone Star” has already made significant strides in curbing illegal crossings. However, Abbott has made it clear that securing the border is costly and has requested $11.1 billion in reimbursement from Congress for the state’s border security efforts. He plans to continue pushing for this funding when he heads to Washington, D.C. next week.
Abbott’s actions have received overwhelming support from Texans, with a strong consensus that the state is doing what the federal government refuses to do—take decisive action to secure the border and uphold the rule of law.