In a bid to curb illegal immigration, the Republican-led state of Texas has commenced the construction of a military “base” in the city of Eagle Pass near the border between the United States and Mexico. This initiative comes amidst continued crossings of millions of migrants into American territories, and about two weeks before the implementation of Texas’ new law on March 5th, which will empower its authorities to arrest and deport individuals suspected of illegally crossing the border.
To tackle illegal immigration, Texas is constructing a military “base” in the city of Eagle Pass near the border, which will be an 80-acre complex on the banks of the Rio Grande River, hosting up to 1,800 soldiers, with the capacity to expand to 2,300 soldiers, according to Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican.
Record numbers of migrants have unlawfully entered the United States since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, including several million who crossed into Texas. Abbott deployed thousands of state-controlled National Guard troops to deter migrants and erected a temporary border wall in Eagle Pass using shipping containers and barbed wire.
Historically, immigration law enforcement in the United States has been the responsibility of the federal government, and Abbott’s moves to secure the border have sparked legal showdowns with the Biden administration. The new military base will be located about nine kilometers south of Shelby Park, an area owned by the city that Texas took control of in an attempt to halt migration.
Abbott stated, “Because of the magnitude of what we’re doing, and because of the need to continue and effectively expand our efforts… it is necessary for us to build this base.” He added that the camp would allow Texas to “assemble a large force in a highly strategic area” and “enhance the speed and flexibility of the National Guard in Texas to address border crossings.”
The new Texas law, scheduled to take effect on March 5th, allowing Texas authorities to arrest and deport individuals suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, is testing the legal boundaries of state authority. The U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights groups have filed lawsuits to block the law from taking effect.