AUSTIN, Texas — With immigration enforcement operations underway throughout the U.S. Texas is helping assist federal agencies.
On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instructed Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) “tactical strike teams” to assist Homeland Security efforts statewide. Abbott said the goal of these strike teams is to arrest and deport over 5,000 people who he says entered the U.S. illegally and who currently have active warrants in the state.
“After four years of failed policies, Texas finally has a partner in President Trump,” Abbott said in a statement on Tuesday. “Together, we will end this crisis and make America safe once again.”
On Monday, Abbott posted to X, formerly Twitter, stating that the Texas Tactical Border Force was sent to the Rio Grande Valley to assist President Trump’s administration “to secure the border and make America safe again.”
The strike teams are made up of DPS troopers, Texas Rangers and special agents and will work alongside the Homeland Security Task Force to conduct arrests. Additional assistance will come from the Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division and the DPS Aircraft Operations Division.
Since Jan. 23, over 3,500 people have been arrested across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This comes amid “targeted” U.S. Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, which have already impacted parts of Central Texas.
On Sunday, ICE confirmed enforcement actions were taken in the Austin area, but it’s uncertain the exact number of individuals detained. Elsewhere across the state, 84 people were also arrested by ICE in North Texas that same day, with others reported in Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.