Texas National Guard Enabled To Make Immigration-Related Arrests As Abbott Seeks Tol Help With Trump's Deportations

The Texas National Guard has been "granted the power of immigration officials" to make arrests" and "exercise all the duties of an immigration agents" as the Greg Abbott administration seeks to help its federal counterpart conduct what it has dubbed as the largest deportation operation in American history.

Abbott announced the deal on Sunday night, saying the agreement "boosts man power for border security." The memorandum of understanding has not yet been "disseminated to all Texas border sectors," Breitbart reported. The outlet detailed that at least 3,000 National Guard soldiers from the state will be added to the ranks of those allowed to help the Trump administration crack down on unlawful immigration.

Abbott has already ordered state agencies to assist with President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts in a series of executive orders. The Republican governor and fierce Trump ally last week signed five other executive orders, all relating to immigration and the need to collaborate with the Trump administration.

Abbott said he ordered state agencies to work with their federal counterparts to "investigate, arrest, detain, and deport illegal immigrants in Texas." The orders also direct state agencies to assist federal agents in securing the U.S.-Mexico border, share intelligence information on drug cartels with federal law enforcement and work with the federal government to "deploy any physical infrastructure to improve operational security at the southern border."

Another order is directed at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Facilities Commission to earmark land and facilities that can be used for detention and deportation for immigrants who are believed to be in the United States unlawfully.

The Texas General Land Office has also gifted the Trump administration a 1,400-acre ranch in Starr Country for use to build detention and deportation facilities. A spokesperson for the Office told Border Report that the Texas Facilities Commission is currently in the process of installing security cameras to monitor the property, lighting, and a motorized gate to allow law enforcement vehicles to patrol the entire property.

The authorization also comes as U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is set to visit the southern border to provide clarity on the actions that active duty troops will perform to help with immigration enforcement.

Hegseth will also meet with Joint Task Force North to discuss the troops' role, CBS 4 reported. "Whatever is needed at the border will be provided," the official said last month.

"The Defense Department will support the defense of the territorial integrity of the United States of America's southern border, including reservists, National Guardsmen, and active-duty personnel in compliance with the Constitution and the laws of our land, and the directives of the Commander in Chief," he added.

The Trump administration announced in late January the deployment of 1,500 active duty troops to the border. The figure is expected to increase quickly, potentially to 10,000 soldiers, CBS News reported. It is part of an "unrestrained request" for military assistance, including providing additional resources, personnel, and technology to CBP. The memo also discusses the possibility of using DoD bases as temporary detention facilities for migrants awaiting deportation.