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 CBP followed up with a short statement late this afternoon.
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 had been told 400-500.
At Monday’s meeting — primarily attended by officials from Brewster County — DOD personnel clarified that the number of personnel sent to the region will be 510, rounding out the 80 servicemembers that already have arrived. The Trump administration indicated that 15,000 will be deployed to the border from San Diego to Brownsville.
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.
That encampment could house hundreds of servicemembers and include vehicle parking, housing, a mess hall, a field hospital and more.
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 Alpine. 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. For now, the plan is for the military to maintain a presence in the region at least until the end of Trump’s presidency.
While some are optimistic about the economic boost from hundreds of extra semi-permanent residents, many locals are anxious about the announcement. Active-duty military has not patrolled the border in the Big Bend since the 1990s, when a Marine on watch duty with Joint Task Force 6 (JTF-6) shot and killed Presidio High School senior Esequiel Hernández in his hometown of Redford.
A grand jury declined to indict the Marine, but the government eventually settled with the Hernández family in a wrongful death lawsuit for nearly $2 million.
The loss left a deep scar in South Presidio County, and the case has been cited countless times by civil rights groups as a reason that the military should not be deployed to enforce law and order along the Rio Grande.
Federal officials insist that the troop presence will be a net positive for both local communities and the greater mission of improving border security. “The deployment of military personnel will enhance our operational effectiveness and provide valuable support to our agents in the field,” said Lloyd M. Easterling, Chief Patrol agent of the Big Bend Sector. “Collaboration with our federal, state and local partners is essential in maintaining border security and ensuring the safety of our communities.”
UPDATE: 5 p.m. CST Friday, March 14.