Greg Abbott gave the Texas National Guard on Tuesday state arrest authority for migrants encountered illegally at the border as it was revealed illegal border jumpers with COVID-19 are being released into the state's communities.
The Texas governor sent a letter to the state's National Guard adjutant general Major General Tracy R. Norris ordering guardsmen to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety wtth arrests related to the border crisis.
'To respond to this disaster and secure the rule of law at our Southern border, more manpower is needed—in addition to the troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and soldiers from the Texas National Guard I have already deployed there—and DPS needs help in arresting those who are violating state law,' Abbott wrote in the letter.
He added: 'By virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, I hereby order that the Texas National Guard assist DPS in enforcing Texas law by arresting lawbreakers at the border.'
The La Joya Police Department said that Border Patrol informed them 'that on July 25, 2021 that they have surpassed 1 million apprehensions in the month of June.'
A judge in Hidalgo, Texas also ordered on Tuesday that immigration federal authorities stop releasing migrants with COVID-19 into the community.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday gave the Texas National Guard members state arrest authority for migrants at the border
He said the order is another attempt to 'secure the rule of law at our southern border' with 'more manpower'
The La Joya Police Department released a statement on Monday claiming after encountering a migrant family at a Whataburger, they were informed that they were apprehended by Border Patrol, but released because they were infected with coronavirus.
In a statement posted to Facebook, the police department said that they learned hundreds of migrants were being put up in hotels within the community by the Catholic Charities of The Rio Grande Valley.
'On July 26, 2021, a La Joya Police Department Officer was waved down by a concern citizen at the Whataburger located at 450 E. US-83, La Joya, TX 78560,' the department wrote in its statement.
'The Officer was also told by Whataburger management that they wanted the people to leave the establishment due to their disregard to other people's health,' it continued, adding the family was coughing and sneezing without covering their mouths or wearing masks.
'The Officer approached the family and was told by them that they had been apprehended by Border Patrol days prior and were released because they were sick with Covid-19,' they revealed.
