Gov. Abbott announces new 'Texas Tactical Border Force' ahead of Title 42 end 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday the creation of the “Texas Tactical Border Force” to respond to the growing immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

The governor is launching the force in response to the surge of migrants that are expected to attempt to cross the border after the pandemic-era policy Title 42 ends on May 11. Title 42, implemented under the Trump administration, allows border officials to quickly expel asylum seekers at the border to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“With the ending of Title 42 on Thursday, President Biden is laying down the welcome mat to people across the entire world, but Texas is deploying our new Texas Tactical Border Force,” said Abbott during a press conference. 

The Tactical Border Force members will join hundreds of Texas National Guard members that are already deployed as part of Operation Lone Star, Abbott’s strategy to keep the border secure that was launched in March 2021. 

“The Texas National Guard is loading Blackhawk helicopters and C-130s and deploying specially trained soldiers for the Texas Tactical Border Force, who will be deployed to hotspots all along the border to help intercept and repel large groups of migrants trying to enter Texas illegally. The Texas Tactical Border Force will bolster our Operation Lone Star efforts to secure the Texas border amid the chaos caused by President Biden’s elimination of Title 42,” the governor added. 

According to a statement from the governor’s office, the Texas Tactical Border Force represents the third phase of Abbott’s border security mission. The first phase began last month when the Texas National Guard was shifted to the border and razor wire barriers were erected along the border. The second phase began on Sunday with the deployment of two quick reaction forces made up of military police units. 

Abbott’s Operation Lone Star has apprehended more than 373,000 undocumented migrants, arrested more than 28,00 criminals, and seized more than 400 million doses of fentanyl, according to the governor’s office. 

With the ending of Title 42 this week, U.S. authorities estimate that around 13,000 undocumented migrants will attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border every day—a figure that could lead to more than 4.7 million migrants over the next year.