Texas National Guard Granted Authority to Arrest and Detain Migrants

Following a new deal with the Trump administration, Texas National Guard personnel now have the power to arrest and hold those who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Signed Friday with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agreement marks a change from the Guard's typically supportive posture to a more direct law enforcement mission by giving it an unheard-of authority in immigration enforcement.

The Guard's enforcement authority used to be restricted to making trespassing on private property arrests alone. Guard members under this new command can look for, arrest, and hold immigrants for deportation needs. They must, however, keep contact with federal officers during enforcement operations and run under CBP oversight.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott hailed the legislative amendment on social media as a necessary boost for border security. "This increases the workforce for border security," Abbott said. The action fits Trump's larger immigration objectives, which call for massive deportations and more military presence at the border.

Critics warn of possible legal and humanitarian repercussions, while advocates contend that more authority will improve border security. Democratic state Representative Gene Wu attacked the ruling, claiming it complicates law enforcement operations and raises hazards for immigrants and officials.

Through Operation Lone Star, Texas has been forceful since 2021, sending the National Guard to stop illegal crossings, erecting Rio Grande barriers, and shipping immigrants to Democrat-led communities. Texas confirms its leadership in state-led immigration enforcement under the new pact, effectively undermining established federal jurisdiction over border security.

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