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Governor Greg Abat signed a memorandum of understanding (MP) With US customs and border defense earlier this month, the National Guard soldiers are authorized to arrest immigrants suspected of being in the United States without law.
Only US immigration authorities could make these arrests before.
The members of the first round of these soldiers were officially replaced in Larendo last week.
Marian Navarro of TPR talks with the Chief of the Patrol Larendo Sector Jesse Munoz about the role of security guard in the implementation of immigration.
This conversation is edited for clarity and length.
Jesse Munos: Historically, in the past, we have had great support from the National Guard. Much of these obligations they have fulfilled do not make arrests and they simply fulfill obligations, and they would help the mechanics or help with observation posts but will not arrest. So what is different with this memorandum is that they can actually make immigration arrests under Title 8. But I think it is important to note that it is not like they work in isolated areas alone with anyone around S They will work under the supervision of the border patrol. So, we will be in the area. We will not make them work, as I said, extremely alone. What is different with this MP is that they can make these arrests. The border patrol will be absolutely nearby and we can come and help.
Marian Navarro: How many members of the National Guard do you expect? And I also understand that it’s not just in Laredo, right? That also the members of the security in del Rio and the RGV sectors?
Munos: Correct, so for () the Larendo sector we expect approximately 300 maybe a little more. This number is very liquid. It can change. I don’t think it would be less than 300. If nothing else, it would be an increase. But we start an initial performance, expecting about 300.
Navarro: You They all started the board process. Can you explain what this process will look like on board and what will lead to training for the National Guard?
Munos: They have already started training here in the Larendo sector. The National Guard comes with a lot of training they already have. Much of the training is just a type of legal authorities and what they are allowed to do under Title 8.
So, in fact, we will have a legal advisor who are lawyers who work for CBP and Border Patrol put many legal classes. The other is the use of force, how the border patrol works. We have a different set of the National Guard. We have our own cuts. Many legal powers for everything – from how to communicate on our radio stations.
This is a lot of information in this three -day course and we enter it, understanding that three days is a short time to get everything they will need. That is why we will make sure that they work under the supervision of the border patrol when they work in the field. So, as soon as they finish this three -day training, we will predict that they will go out into the field.
Navarro: So, examining border crossings – the number of immigrant crossings along the southwestern border has decreased significantly. In addition to now having the authority to arrest, how else will the National Guard help with the border patrol operations as a whole?
Munos: So, I have many more agents. So, we will meet the staff requirements that we have not been able to meet before. And again, as far as the National Guard, 300 who come, will help us, patrol between the ports of entry. They allow agents to serve the numbers we need to have, and this is at a checkpoint.
So, we have more agents that can pay more attention to the vehicles that come from the entry ports.
And I know that a lot has been reported that the greater part of the medicines enter the ports to enter, but this is because they are more caught in the ports of entry. The ports of entry, they did not lose the workforce as the border patrol, were for the responsibilities of processing.