Texas Border Is Now Mostly Militarized

The military has been given control of certain stretches of the US - Mexico border and now another 200 miles or so of "open" border in Texas is under the Air Force's watch.

It started with something called the Roosevelt Reservation which gave stretches of land along the border to area military bases. Thus giving them the right to search, detain and/or arrest anyone trespassing there. A power they only hold on military land.

An army base, Fort Huachuca, in Arizona took over a stretch of land about 60 feet wide alongside the border in Arizona and New Mexico last year.

Why Was The Texas Border Militarized?

A press release from the office of Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said that the moves were intended to “strengthen interagency coordination and bolster security operations along the U.S. southern border.” - defenseone.com

Where Was The Texas Border Militarized?

The area from the tip of Texas, (right at the Gulf), up to McAllen was first militarized. That was then extended to Roma. Now the stretch from Falcon Dam to Del Rio has been added to the area under the watch of the United States Air Force. See a map here.

READ MORE: Arizona Army Base Now Controls New Mexico Border

The El Paso sector was militarized last year from the state line to Fort Hancock.

Military Equipment In Use On The Border

Last month, the military began launching the Seasats Lightfish, a long-endurance autonomous surface vessel, into its portion of the Rio Grande to watch for border crossings. Other assets deployed to the southern border include UH-72 Lakota helicopters, C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster transports, Stryker armored vehicles, the destroyer Cole, and thousands of U.S. troops. - defenseone.com

What Could Go Wrong?

Obviously, they're watching for illegal aliens, human traffickers, smugglers, etc. There have been complaints that the warning/no trespassing signs are hard to see though so, it's possible that U.S. citizens could accidentally enter these areas. Hikers, hunters, even peeps working near the border could be picked up.

They probably wouldn't be held on charges of illegal entry or smuggling but they could be charged with federal trespassing. Heads up if you're by the river in south Texas.