Up to 800 additional US troops are being sent to the Mexican border – but will play no role in stemming the latest surge in illegal immigration to America, the Biden administration has announced.
Active duty personnel will focus on “logistics and other functions at the border to allow more Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers to return to their core missions and responsibilities,” the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday night.
In practice, this means the military will help with migrant processing and paperwork that would otherwise affect CBP agents needed on the ground — and won’t be directly involved with new immigrants.
There are already 24,000 agents and border officials along the US-Mexico border, along with 2,500 state National Guard personnel, according to DHS.
The Pentagon announced September 1 that up to 400 military personnel who were part of an initial deployment of 1,500 to the border in early May would remain until the end of the month.
The Biden administration has deployed about 800 new troops to help stem the continuing surge of immigrants showing up at the southern border.AP
The new troops will assist the existing 24,000 agents and border officials stationed on the Texas-Mexico border. AFP via Getty Images
On Wednesday, more than 4,000 migrants crossed into Eagle Pass, Texas, prompting the overwhelmed city to declare a state of emergency.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr. in June declared the city’s public parks “private property” so the state Department of Public Safety could arrest immigrants trespassing there.
In a social media post Wednesday night, Texas DPS spokesman Chris Olivarez said the mayor once again authorized police officers to arrest immigrants crossing the river into the city’s Shelby Park.
The Biden administration also plans to speed up the removal of families without legal status from the border.Getty Images
On Wednesday, more than 4,000 migrants crossed into Eagle Pass, Texas, prompting the overwhelmed city to declare a state of emergency. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
“Due to an unprecedented influx of illegal immigrants crossing between ports of entry, DPS Troopers & @TXMilitary will regain control, support local, county & federal authorities, & maintain an enforcement posture,” Olivarez write on the platform.
Speaking to News4SA, Democratic state Representative Eddie Morales said he hoped the crackdown would “resonate with all immigrants who are still in Mexico or in Latin America, to send a strong message that if you cross, you will actually be arrested and charged with criminal trespass .”
Wednesday’s move follows a series of new measures introduced by the administration to help combat the surge in migrants crossing the border this summer.
The Department of Defense has already deployed 2,500 state National Guard personnel.Getty Images
Active duty personnel will focus on “logistics and other functions at the border,” according to the White House. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
On Wednesday, the White House also announced it would extend temporary protection status to nearly half a million Venezuelans currently in the United States.
Salinas this week told The Post that the new influx of immigrants, mostly from Venezuela, has overwhelmed Mission Border Hope, the only immigrant shelter in Eagle Pass.
What’s more, Salinas said, the newest group — which makes up nearly 50% of the city’s 29,000 residents — has “taken a toll on our local resources, especially our local police force and our fire department.”
The Biden administration also announced plans to improve the work authorization process for asylum seekers.AP
The administration has introduced several policies to help combat the surge in migrants crossing the border this summer.Getty Images
On Wednesday, Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott accused the Biden administration of cutting the razor wire the Lone Star State had installed at Eagle Pass.
“Texas installs razor wire at Eagle Pass to stop illegal crossings,” Abbott explained to X, formerly known as Twitter. “Today Admin Biden CUT that wire, opening the floodgates to illegal immigrants.”
“I immediately deployed more Texas National Guardsmen to drive out illegal crossings & put up more razor wire,” Abbott added.
The governor later posted a photo of a letter sent directly to Biden in November 2022, and declared that the president’s policies led to “invasions at our borders.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
