Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent 400 Texas National Guard troops to El Paso on Monday as an unprecedented number of migrants continue to flood the city.
The National Guard troops were activated and deployed from the 136th Airlift Wing in Fort Worth, Texas. The deployment includes a Security Response Force composed of elements of the 606th Military Police Battalion, according to KFOX14.
“Soldiers will assist in deterring illegal migrants crossing from Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, into the United States,” according to a tweet from the Texas Military Department.
The troops, which were transported on four C-130J aircraft to El Paso, were seen patrolling the border on Tuesday. Additionally, they were spotted installing a wire fence along a popular crossing point for migrants along the river bank of the Rio Grande.
On Saturday, El Paso declared a state of emergency after thousands of migrants seeking asylum made their way to the city. Last week alone, Border Patrol agents intercepted around 2,400 migrants a day in the El Paso sector.
The influx of migrants overwhelmed local shelter centers, leaving hundreds sleeping in the streets during freezing cold temperatures. According to El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, the emergency declaration would free up resources to help accommodate and shelter the migrants.
"We wanted to make sure people are treated with dignity. We want to make sure everyone is safe," Leeser told reporters.
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