Troops at Lookout Towers Not Part of National Guard Deployment

Posted: Aug 15, 2014 11:37 AM
Updated: Aug 15, 2014 12:00 PM

WESLACO - The National Guard units in lookout towers along the border are not part of the governor's request for additional troops.

They're part of the Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force, which arrived in the Rio Grande Valley Monday. Master Sgt. Kenneth Walker, who's part of the task force, said the guardsmen report activity to local law enforcement.

They don't have contact with people crossing the border and serve strictly as extra eyes and ears. The special task force will be in the Valley until the end of September.

In July, Texas Governor Rick Perry ordered 1,000 National Guard troops to the border. The guardsmen are expected to assist DPS with border security efforts. The governor didn't state exactly when and where troops would be deployed.

The Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force members currently in the Rio Grande Valley are not part of that deployment.

http://www.krgv.com/news/troops-at-l...rd-deployment/