Greg Abbott to build National Guard base in Eagle Pass Texas to fight border invasion

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced plans to build an 80-acre base in Eagle Pass for 1,800 National Guard troops.

Abbott released a statement from his office on the press conference where he announced the plans last Friday.

"Texas is expanding our border security capabilities by building a new Texas Military Department base camp to increase and improve border security operations in this area," said Gov. Abbott. "This will increase the ability for a larger number of Texas Military Department soldiers in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and efficiently. Before now, the Texas National Guard had been scattered across this entire region in cramped quarters, away from fellow soldiers, and sometimes traveling long distances to do their job. This base camp is going to dramatically improve conditions for our soldiers. Texas would not be able to respond to President Biden's border crisis without the brave men and women of the Texas National Guard, and it is essential to build this base camp for them."

Abbott was joined in the press conference by Major General Suelzer, who added, "In addition to being able to house 1,800 troops in their own individual rooms, Forward Operating Base Eagle will also have surge capability of taking on 500 additional troops should we need to deploy the Texas Tactical Border Force to this area."

The general said that in the next several weeks they will be expanding construction on the base to improve the local security around Eagle Pass. "We are also adding three more fan boats and expanding our drone program radar truck capabilities. Under Governor Abbott's leadership, we are deploying every available resource and strategy to protect and defend Texas," he added.

The decision comes amidst the Biden administration taking Texas to court in a lawsuit over the state government making crossing the border illegally a state-level offense.

Abbott's office said that these actions and others to secure the border have been taken due to President Joe Biden and the federal government's inaction to secure the border. The Texas Gov. listed 13 different steps Texas has had to take to secure the southern border.