As his feud with Biden and the federal government simmers, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has gone full steam ahead with Operation Lone Star, Texas’s state-based response to the border crisis. In fact, the governor recently announced that Texas will be constructing a Forward Operating Base along the border to house those soldiers in the Texas National Guard who are deployed along the border.
The aim of the Forward Operating Base, which will be constructed in the Del Rio sector of the Texas-Mexico border area, is to enable the Texas Military Department, which oversees the Texas National Guard, to deploy more troopers along the border. That increased deployment bandwidth will, in turn, allow the deployed troopers to more efficiently and effectively defend the border.
Such is what Gov. Abbott announced in a press release, saying, “Texas is expanding our border security capabilities by building a new Texas Military Department base camp to increase and improve border security operations in this area. This will increase the ability for a larger number of Texas Military Department soldiers in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and efficiently.”
Continuing, he added, “Before now, the Texas National Guard had been scattered across this entire region in cramped quarters, away from fellow soldiers, and sometimes traveling long distances to do their job. This base camp is going to dramatically improve conditions for our soldiers. Texas would not be able to respond to President Biden’s border crisis without the brave men and women of the Texas National Guard, and it is essential to build this base camp for them.”
Joining Governor Abbott in announcing the Forward Operating Base were Adjutant General of Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks. They helped explain the details of the base and for what it will be used as Texas expands its border defense operations.
Speaking on the matter, Major General Suelzer said, “In addition to being able to house 1,800 troops in their own individual rooms, Forward Operating Base Eagle will also have surge capability of taking on 500 additional troops should we need to deploy the Texas Tactical Border Force to this area.”
He continued, “In the coming weeks, we will also be expanding operations north and south of Eagle Pass, putting up additional barriers to fortify our border. We are also adding three more fan boats and expanding our drone program radar truck capabilities. Under Governor Abbott’s leadership, we are deploying every available resource and strategy to protect and defend Texas.”
Similarly, Border Czar Banks said, “The key thing I want you to take away from this is that we are providing a better quality of life for our Texas National Guard soldiers. To see those numbers decrease in Texas, it’s a testament to what these soldiers and DPS are doing to secure the border. I applaud Governor Abbott for your leadership to stand up and do what the federal government continues to fail to do.”
Watch Texan troops deploy border defenses here:
Featured image credit: photo released by Gov. Abbott on X
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