Migrant apprehensions at the southern border are on track to reach their lowest annual total since the Trump administration. Still, Texas Governor Greg Abbott claims the "border is not safe" and is now "tripling" razor wire fencing along the riverbank between Texas and New Mexico.
On Saturday, Abbott took to his X account to criticize the Biden administration's border security efforts. "Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have allowed more illegal immigrants to cross our southern border than ever before. Texas is fighting back," he wrote. "We are TRIPLING our razor wire border barriers to deny illegal entry into our state and country."
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have allowed more illegal immigrants to cross our southern border than ever before.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 14, 2024
Texas is fighting back.
We are TRIPLING our razor wire border barriers to deny illegal entry into our state and our country. pic.twitter.com/59eGlK01kX
Three days later, KTSM cameras captured Texas Army National Guard troops installing razor wire fencing — not on the U.S.-Mexico border, but along the Texas-New Mexico boundary. The fencing stretches from West Paisano Drive to the Texas side of the Anapra, N.M., bridge between El Paso and Sunland Park. It is designed to prevent illegal migrant activity from New Mexico from spilling into Texas.
According to U.S. Border Patrol data, the Santa Teresa, N.M., station remains one of the busiest in the El Paso sector and nationwide for smuggling activity. Migrant encounters and apprehensions frequently affect the surrounding community. Earlier this year, Santa Teresa Middle School reported two incidents where migrants entered school grounds to evade arrest by Border Patrol agents.
"It is common for Border Patrol agents to receive calls from the Sunland Park, N.M., community, especially from those impacted by migrants who often conceal themselves inside properties," the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso sector said in a statement.
Earlier this year, Texas extended its border barriers at a location where the river stops running parallel to Mexico and turns north into New Mexico, out of concern that illegal smuggling activity there could spill into Texas, according to Border Report.
Meanwhile, border security remains a hot-button issue expected to play a significant role in the 2024 presidential election. Both Democrats and Republicans are promising safer borders, though their approaches vary. Former President Donald Trump has taken a controversial stance, vowing to conduct massive deportations and enact drastic measures to curb illegal immigration. On the other hand, Democrats like U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred are adopting more conservative positions on immigration than in previous elections.
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