EAGLE PASS, Texas – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday that Eagle Pass will be home to a new 80-acre base camp for hundreds of personnel in the Texas Military Department in an effort to expand operations at the border.
The camp is in its first stage of construction about six miles south of Shelby Park, one of the main focuses of Abbott’s recent border enforcement efforts.
Watch the press conference below
The Republican governor said the “essential” camp would consolidate forces and place the “large army” in one area. The Texas Military Department consists of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard.
“This will increase the ability for a larger number of Texas Military Department personnel in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and more efficiently,” Abbott said.
The complex will house 1,800 soldiers with the capability of holding 2,300, if needed.
Adjutant General of Texas Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer said the complex will include a recreation area, a gym, a 700-seat dining hall and individual rooms for soldiers. Individual rooms will be at least 1,800 square feet.
The cost of the base was not revealed during the press conference. But Abbott said the financial impact would be minimal because of the state’s existing expenditures on hotels and travel.
Eagle Pass residents weigh in
Locals weighed in after hearing the news about the new base camp.
“It’s really bad that it looks as if it was a war zone,” said Sergio Ortiz, an Eagle Pass resident.
“He’s doing it because he’s running again. ‘This is what I did. This is what I tried to do.’ And I think Abbott, I don’t know, I don’t think he’s helping us at all,” said Ally Guerra, an Eagle Pass resident.
Border apprehensions by the numbers
Apprehensions on the border sharply declined on the U.S.-Mexico border in January. The number fell to 176,205 last month after hitting a record of 302,034 in December.
The largest decrease was in the Del Rio sector, which includes Eagle Pass, according to the Associated Press.
Abbott cited “the effectiveness of the razor wire” as the main deterrent, but Mexico has also increased enforcement efforts during that time after talks with U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.
He added razor wire will be used in more areas along the border but didn’t specify exactly where.
Earlier this month, Abbott doubled down on the state taking over parts of Eagle Pass, including Shelby Park, even though immigration law enforcement is under federal jurisdiction.
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