The Trump administration has sent hundreds of troops and armored vehicles to Big Bend National Park in West Texas as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
This significant military mobilization reinforces the administration’s commitment to stricter border security and tighter control over the Southern border.
President Donald Trump campaigned on securing the border and mass deportations, and this move aligns with those promises.
What to Know?
Troop deployment began on March 13, with 200 soldiers from the Army’s 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, already stationed in the area.
The total is expected to rise to 500 in the coming weeks. Officials have not disclosed the exact number of Stryker armored combat vehicles involved, but these eight-wheeled transports can carry up to 11 troops and reach speeds of 60 miles per hour.
Along with Strykers, the deployment includes Humvee-style tactical vehicles, fuel trucks, and other support equipment.
Major Jared Stefani, who leads the battalion deployed to Big Bend, noted that while troops will not conduct arrests, they will assist federal agents with surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Separately, some National Guard soldiers have been deputized under an agreement between Texas and the Trump administration, allowing them to carry out immigration arrests.
The move has drawn criticism from the Sierra Club, which denounced it as a waste of taxpayer money and a political stunt.
The Big Bend Sector sees fewer migrant crossings than other areas along the border.
In February, Customs and Border Protection reported 165 migrant encounters in Big Bend, compared to 1,679 in Laredo and 2,623 in El Paso. That month, overall border apprehensions hit their lowest level in decades.
Big Bend National Park, one of the largest in the U.S., is also Texas’s most visited, drawing 561,458 visitors last year.
What People Are Saying?
- Border Patrol spokesman Claudio Herrera-Baeza: “This sends a clear message to criminal organizations that illegal incursions and illicit activities will not be tolerated.”
- Chief Patrol Agent Lloyd M. Easterling (via X, formerly Twitter): “STRYKER Deployed! Great to have #DoD boots on the ground alongside #USBP #BigBend Sector agents! Their support in this rugged terrain is a game-changer.”
- Major Jared Stefani: “We will not be actively on patrols. We’ll be at detection and monitoring sites, providing information to Border Patrol for enforcement.”
- Sherman Neal II, Sierra Club Military Outdoors deputy director and Marine Corps veteran: “Hate has no place in our parks. Militarization creates a chilling effect on communities. At a time when border apprehensions are at an all-time low and park visitation is at an all-time high, we must resist manufactured crises driven by xenophobia and disinformation.”
What Happens Next?
The military presence in Big Bend is expected to increase as the administration continues its efforts to secure the southern border.
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