EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The new head of the Border Patrol is in the Valley Friday.
Mike Banks is in Edinburg where he will be swearing in 300 National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
Banks is giving these troops the jurisdiction to now arrest immigrants crossing into the U.S. illegally.
The Texas Tribune reported that Governor Greg Abbott has signed an agreement with President Donald Trump’s administration earlier this month authorizing Texas National Guard soldiers to make immigration arrests as long as they work in tandem with federal agents.
Abbott clarified Thursday that the agreement means they have the same authority as any ICE or Border Patrol agents, including “apprehending, arresting, jailing, and going through the deportation process.” He added Department of Public Safety officers were also working with ICE, embedding with ICE agents in their operations in Texas.
The Texas Tribune contributed to this report.
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