Hundreds of U.S. troops and armored vehicles have been deployed to Big Bend National Park by the Trump administration.
According to Newsweek, the move is part of President Donald Trump’s push to get illegal immigration under control, and the significant military mobilization signals he administration’s commitment to border enforcement, which was a campaign promise Trump is working to fulfill.
On March 13, troops were deployed into West Texas with 200 soldiers from the Army’s 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado. The total deployed to Texas is expected to reach 500, according to Army officials.
Newsweek further reported that officials said combat vehicles, Humvee-style tactical vehicles, fuel trucks and other support vehicles will be deployed alongside troops. This includes Stryker armored vehicles that can carry up to 11 troops and are design to maneuver through rugged terrain.
According to Major Jared Stefani, who is in command of the battalion being sent to Big Bend, troops will only be supporting federal agents and will not be making arrests.
“We will not be actively on patrols,” Stefani said. “We’ll be at detection and monitoring sites, to provide that information to Border Patrol, to then go out and do their law enforcement function.”
The Texas national guard will also assist in the effort. However, some soldiers having been deputized in order to carry out immigration arrests.
The Sierra Club slammed the move, with deputy director of the Sierra Club Military Outdoors campaign and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Sherman Neal II saying in a statement that the troops have no place in the national park.
“Demonstrations over the past several weeks at our parks have shown that hate has no place in our parks,” Neal said. “Gateway communities to our national parks understand their economic viability isn’t tied to the chilling effects of militarization but nested in becoming more inclusive communities for all of us. At a time where park visitation is at an all-time high and apprehension at the border at an all-time low, we must resist the administration’s attempts to exploit our vulnerable populations by manufacturing crises rooted in xenophobia and disinformation.”
Border Patrol spokesman Claudio Herrera-Baeza said the deployment sends a clear message.
“This sends a clear and unequivocal message to the criminal organizations operating on either side of the border that we will not tolerate illegal incursions or illicit activities along our border,” Herrera-Baeza said. “These vehicles have incredible detection technology that the Border Patrol will incorporate into its mission of safeguarding our borders.”
