Texas Gov Announces Military Base Camp At Border

The Governor of Texas Greg Abbott led by example when he got the National Guard involved in protecting the border.

On Friday he says it time to step up protection even more.

Time to get serious.

Time to set up a full-on military camp!

Yeah, it’s about time!

And it’s called Forward Operating Base Eagle.

Texas Gov. Abbott announces border camps for National Guard troops https://t.co/3Pi3YJs2qZ

— 7 News WKBW (@WKBW) February 17, 2024

Newsweek reports:

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Friday that his state is constructing a military base camp to consolidate National Guard troops near the border, which he called a “win-win” for better soldier conditions and lower statewide costs in battling illegal immigration.

Texas has been the epicenter of the U.S.-Mexico border battle for the past year and a half as Abbott and state officials have taken matters into their own hands because of perceived inaction by the Biden administration and federal government.

This has included lawsuits and federal court battles involving the use of razor wire in highly traversed areas such as Shelby Park in the city of Eagle Pass and floating barriers in the Rio Grande.

The Context

Crossings on the border in Texas totaled 68,260 in January, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics—a massive drop from the 149,806 migrants who attempted to enter the country through the state in December. Encounters there totaled 119,628 and 111,129 in October and November, respectively.

“This will increase the ability for a larger number of military department personnel in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and more efficiently,” Abbott said about the military camp at Friday’s press conference.

He was accompanied by members of the Texas National Guard in addition to Adjutant General of Texas Thomas Suelzer and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks.

What We Know

The first stage of construction has already begun on 80 acres, Abbott said, and will extend along the Rio Grande and six miles south to Shelby Park. The camp will house approximately 1,800 soldiers, with the ability to expand to 2,300.

A 300-bed capacity is expected by mid-April, with 300 additional beds added every 30 days beyond that point.

What’s Next

Following the nixing of a $100 billion immigration bill earlier this month, federal border legislation remains a long shot, with a lack of partisan agreement on how to proceed.

On Friday, bipartisan House members unveiled the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act. The legislation would last just one year and provide the necessary authority to secure the U.S. southern border and $66.32 billion in defense-only funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

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🚨𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has announced the groundbreaking construction of an 80-acre military facility along the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass.

Our border will be protected!🔥

The new Forward Operating Base in Eagle Pass will accommodate up to 2,300 military… pic.twitter.com/KcygauTcVT

— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) February 16, 2024

Reuters adds:

Record numbers of migrants have crossed illegally into the United States since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, including several million crossing into Texas. Abbott has deployed thousands of state-controlled National Guard troops to deter migrants and built a makeshift border wall in Eagle Pass out of shipping containers and concertina wire.

U.S. immigration enforcement historically has been the responsibility of the federal government and Abbott’s moves to secure the border have triggered legal standoffs with Biden’s administration.

The new military base will be six miles south of Shelby Park, a city-owned area that the state of Texas has commandeered in an effort to block migrants.

Full video:

BREAKING: Greg Abbott has announced that Texas WILL NOT BACK DOWN at Eagle pass.

We will secure the border.

Texas will be establishing a permanent base and expanding the operation north and south of Eagle Pass. pic.twitter.com/pr4awF6RR9

— Texas Nationalist Movement (TEXIT) (@TexasNatMov) February 16, 2024