Hundreds of Texas National Guard troops headed to Laredo to help Border Patrol

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — About 300 Texas National Guard are headed to the South Texas border town of Laredo, according to Border Patrol.

Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse Muñoz on Friday told the Laredo Morning Times that over 300 Texas National Guard soldiers will arrive in the Laredo Sector within a month to enhance border security.

The new troops will be allowed to perform immigration officer duties under the supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. This is under a new memorandum of understanding between CBP and the Texas National Guard that allows some in-state active-duty soldiers the authority to question immigration status under Title 8.

“Under Title 8, they will have the authority to make arrests, but I want everybody to understand. We are not going to tell them, ‘Hey you guys go and take this area,’ and we don’t put Border Patrol agents out,” Muñoz told the Laredo Morning Times. ““They are going to work under direct supervision of the Border Patrol. If there’s a case where they make an apprehension, there will be Border Patrol agents close by that will come and assist.”