Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a briefing at Anzalduas Park on Friday in Mission. (Courtesy Photo)
Flanked by members of the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, Gov. Greg Abbott made another stop at Anzalduas Park to talk about the state’s immigration focus, particularly in three border areas including Mission.
“About a month ago, my team working along with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard, we began preparing for something we shouldn’t have to prepare for,” Abbott said. “We’ve began preparing for a caravan, or caravans heading our way.”
Abbott, who is running for reelection, committed millions of dollars in resources to reinforce border security and deter migrants from entering the country illegally through the state, as he intermittently berated the Biden administration over its handling of issues affecting the region.
In his latest visit, the governor said his government is focusing on caravans moving up through Mexico with a route toward the United States. Yet, the latest intelligence provided by DPS and Texas National Guard suggested there is “some evidence” the caravans disbanded to some extent, Abbott said.
“Even if the caravans are breaking up, it doesn’t mean that the people who were part of the caravans are not going to be trying to make it to the United States of America. It’s just that they may be coming in ones or twos as opposed to large caravans,” Abbott said.
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicates an upward trend in border encounters, one that stays true to the historical rise in numbers during the summer. In May, about 239,000 encounters were registered throughout the southern border, an increase of 4,000 from the previous month.
The governor reiterated terms of recent agreements reached with border state governors on the Mexican side who, after strong-armed negotiations using trade inspections as a motivator, declared they would increase border security. Some of those measures include creating internal checkpoints in Mexico, increasing use of state police, and using “mirroring” techniques to mirror police activity from the U.S. on the Mexican side all with the purpose of deterring illegal migration.
Rows of unraveled concertina wire lay beside the press conference on Anzalduas Park, an example of the strategies implemented to deter migration from certain areas, the governor said.
Through a yearlong effort to work with private and public entities, the state has set up fencing with willing property owners and laced 18 miles of concertina wire to create barriers and create deterrence. Members of the Texas National Guard are also preparing for mass migration events which can be mobile and accommodate different locations, the governor said.
A command-and-control post was established by the Texas National Guard at the Anzalduas International Bridge in preparation for a mass-migration response, according to the governor’s office. “The post will allow effective coordination of partner agencies on the ground by directing joint and multi-agency operations during a mass-migration event,” a news release stated.
“So long as there is a threat that exists here, our job is to remain proficient, competent, capable, and ready to respond, day or night,” Jason Cordaway, Task Force East commanding officer, said via statement.
The state is focusing on two other areas where resources are low and migration levels have picked up: Eagle Pass and Del Rio.
