This is a developing story and will be updated.
TRI-COUNTY — Area government and law enforcement officials began a meeting with Department of Defense (DOD) representatives at 9 a.m. this morning at the Alpine Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Station to brief participants on the arrival of military troops to the Big Bend. The media was not invited to the session, but a statement about the new military presence from CBP is expected at some point today.
An email from CBP went out yesterday around 10:45 a.m. to the Alpine City Manager informing the city of the meeting. As of yesterday around 5 p.m., some local Marfa law enforcement had not heard of the session. It’s unclear how many troops will be deployed in the Big Bend. Some local officials have been told 400-500.
DOD officials met with Marfa Airport Director Chase Snodgrass on Tuesday at the airport to discuss logistics of military planes flying in and a possible encampment, according to Precinct 4 County Commissioner David Beebe.
Presidio Mayor John Ferguson said he was told that 26 military personnel would be stationed in Presidio to work on surveillance cameras and vehicles with CBP. He said it was uncertain where they would stay — but likely hotels.
Sources not wanting to be named told The Big Bend Sentinel that DOD would be looking for 80 hotel rooms in Marfa. The Sentinel previously reported on potential troop deployments to Big Bend National Park, but there are no updates at this time.
On March 4, the CBP deputized a contingent of Texas National Guard troops in Alpine, allowing them to make immigration arrests. “The newly deputized Texas National Guard soldiers are now empowered to enforce federal immigration laws,” the CBP said in a statement. “This enhanced authority allows these soldiers to arrest individuals for immigration related offenses under the direction and supervision of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.”
It’s unclear whether this “oath of office” will be given to arriving troops.
