EL PASO, Texas — Texas National Guardsmen were instrumental in preventing massive illegal crossings throughout the state once Title 42 was no longer officially being enforced on Friday. One such scene played out on the banks of the Rio Grande on the outskirts of El Paso, where Guardsmen reinforced an area that had been a popular spot for illegal crossings the past few weeks.
On the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, the Texas National Guard is blocking an area that has been a popular spot for illegal crossings. A group of migrants are waiting on the bank, deciding what to do. pic.twitter.com/aa1ZgCvDVf
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 12, 2023
A group of around 20 illegal immigrants begged the soldiers standing post to let them in, but the Guardsmen said the area had been closed and that if they wanted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, they needed to do it at a port of entry. Prior to the arrival of the Texas military, around 1,000 illegal immigrants had crossed and were waiting to be processed by Border Patrol. By Friday morning, most of the people had been brought in to be processed, and around 200 remained.
Illegal immigrants continued to walk along the river bank but continued past the area once they saw the fence the Guardsmen installed in the hole of the concertina wire. Further down the river, there would be more National Guardsmen to prevent intrusions.
Townhall Media/Julio Rosas
Townhall Media/Julio Rosas
Townhall Media/Julio Rosas
"With the ending of Title 42 on Thursday, President Biden is laying down the welcome mat to people across the entire world, but Texas is deploying our new Texas Tactical Border Force," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. "The Texas National Guard is loading Blackhawk helicopters and C-130s and deploying specially trained soldiers for the Texas Tactical Border Force, who will be deployed to hotspots all along the border to help intercept and repel large groups of migrants trying to enter Texas illegally."
