Biden admin deploys 800 troops to border to assist with migrant processing rather than stemming invasion

CANDACE HATHAWAY
September 22, 2023

The Biden administration recently announced plans to send an additional 800 U.S. military members to the southern border to assist with processing migrants but not to aid law enforcement efforts.

According to Biden’s Department of Homeland Security, the active-duty troops will “assist with logistics and other functions at the border to allow more Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers to return to their core mission and responsibilities.”

There are already 2,500 National Guard members deployed at the border to aid with paperwork and other processing operations, which would otherwise tie up Customs and Border Protection officers. The DHS reported that there are currently 24,000 Border Patrol agents along the southern border, and the deployment of troops will free them up to return to the field.

In recent weeks, the southern border has experienced a considerable increase in illegal crossings, largely due to inaccurate rumors spread on social media by Mexican drug cartels, according to border officials. Law enforcement officers told the New York Post that they believe the cartels are trying to overwhelm agents in order to smuggle drugs into the country.

Earlier this week, Rolando Salinas Jr., the mayor of Eagle Pass, Texas, declared a state of emergency after a “severe” surge of illegal immigrants. Salinas stated that most of those crossing into the country were single adult men.

The Texas Department of Public Safety told Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin on Wednesday that at least 4,000 illegal immigrants have crossed into Eagle Pass over the past several days.

Salinas told the Post on Thursday, “There have to be consequences for crossing illegally.”

“I’ve never seen people cross like this,” he continued. “If they’re going to come, they must enter through the port of entry. I know people are desperate, but this is a nation of laws.”

Salinas added that Eagle Pass police and firefighters are overwhelmed with the recent influx of migrants.

“We don’t have the resources to handle this,” he stated. “We’ve seen robberies, they’ve broken into homes.”

He noted that the small border city is preparing for 4,000 to 9,000 migrants to attempt to cross into the country over the next few days. In the past 10 days, the city has encountered approximately 11,500 migrants at the border. For comparison, the Post noted that the entire southern border set a record in May when 10,000 people attempted to cross in one day.

On Wednesday evening, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Chris Olivarez stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Due to the unprecedented influx of illegal immigrants crossing between the ports of entry, DPS Troopers & @TXMilitary will regain control, support local, county, & federal authorities, & maintain an enforcement posture.”

Republican Governor Greg Abbott declared “an invasion at our border” due to the president’s policies.

“Texas installed razor wire in Eagle Pass to stop illegal crossings,” Abbott wrote on X Wednesday. “Today the Biden Admin CUT that wire, opening the floodgates to illegal immigrants. I immediately deployed more Texas National Guard to repel illegal crossings & install more razor wire.”

https://www.theblaze.com/news/biden-...mming-invasion