Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced plans to construct an 80-acre base on Friday to accommodate up to 1,800 Texas National Guard members near Eagle Pass, a border city at the center of a dispute between the state and the Biden administration regarding federal immigration policy.
The Future Home of the Texas Military
Previously, the Texas National Guard was spread out across this area, often in cramped conditions and separated from their fellow soldiers. They would sometimes have to travel long distances to fulfill their duties, said Abbott during a press conference, with a banner behind him reading "Future Home of the Texas Military Department, Forward Operating Base." As it expands, the new base camp will significantly enhance soldiers' living conditions and accommodate up to 2,300 personnel.
Abbott was joined by the state's border czar, Mike Banks, and Texas military department Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Suelzer mentioned that the construction cost of the base would be "minimal," explaining that housing guard members for Operation Lone Star at the base would save expenses compared to their current lodging in hotel rooms. However, the exact construction cost was not disclosed during the news conference. According to a statement from Abbott's office, the camp will include a dining facility, a recreation center, laundry facilities, individual rooms for troops, and health care facilities.
A Feud with President Biden Over Immigration Policy
The Texas Republican Governor has clashed with President Biden over migrants crossing the US-Mexico border. In 2021, Abbott announced Operation Lone Star, Texas' independent border security initiative to fight illegal immigration in response to what state officials called "reckless open border policies" from the Biden administration.
Federal Law Enforcements' Restricted Access to Certain Areas
Tensions have risen since state authorities installed razor wire along the border, restricting federal law enforcement's access to certain areas, and continued to transfer migrants to Democratic-controlled cities across the U.S.
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Last month, a woman and two children, migrants from Mexico, drowned in an area near Eagle Pass, where state authorities had restricted federal access.
After the migrant deaths, a letter from Department of Homeland Security General Counsel Jonathan Meyer expressed concern over Texas's failure to grant access to the border, even in situations of imminent danger to life and safety. The letter stated that Texas has shown it will not permit Border Patrol access to the border for law enforcement and emergency response activities, even in the most urgent circumstances.
Biden Administration Removing Razor Wires at the Border
Last year, Texas officials sued the Biden administration for removing razor wire at the border. Last month, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow Border Patrol agents to remove the razor wire installed in the Eagle Pass area as part of Abbott's security initiative. In contrast, the state's legal challenge to the wire removal continues.
The Department of Homeland Security has requested that Texas grant "full access" to the border, stating that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. Abbott and other Texas officials have pledged to stand firm and not yield.
Building a Base Camp to Support Soldiers
On Friday, Abbott emphasized that the Texas National Guard plays a vital role in addressing President Biden's border crisis, highlighting the necessity of constructing a base camp to support their efforts.
The governor has previously criticized Biden for not fulfilling his duty to protect the nation's borders and for using taxpayer money to dismantle Texas's border security infrastructure.
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