(NewsNation) — Another Texas National Guard soldier has been caught attempting to smuggle a migrant into the United States, marking the third such incident involving Texas military personnel since April and raising concerns about the state’s border security forces.
NewsNation has obtained exclusive dashcam video of Kinney County sheriff’s deputies arresting Brian Bermea, 19 of San Antonio, a part-time member of the Army National Guard while he attempted to transport an undocumented immigrant from Mexico further into the U.S.
Sources told NewsNation that the man being smuggled is a professional bull rider with no criminal record.
Service members drawn into smuggling activities
Bermea was not on an active mission during his arrest and has never served with Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star. He’s facing felony human smuggling charges.
His case is just the latest where service members are being drawn into smuggling activities.
In April, Branden Broadhead accepted a $5,000 offer from a cartel member to smuggle people illegally. He picked up two illegal immigrants in Eagle Pass, but his attempt was interrupted by an unexpected Border Patrol checkpoint in Kinney County.
Broadhead told NewsNation that he joined the military to pay for school. He claims was drawn into smuggling when his mother became sick, and he wanted to help financially.
Just before Broadhead’s arrest, 26-year-old Savion Johnson, who was stationed in Eagle Pass under Operation Lonestar, was charged with attempting to smuggle an undocumented migrant across the border.
Authorities allege Johnson tried to avoid a Border Patrol checkpoint, sparking a high-speed pursuit. At the time, he was armed and was reportedly promised up to $6,000 for his role in the smuggling operation.
Abbott seeks 10-year sentence for human smuggling
Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe says while he doesn’t sympathize, the low pay of the guardsmen may contribute to their involvement in this dangerous activity.
Legislation is currently moving through the courts in Texas, but if Abbott’s proposal is enacted, human smugglers will face a minimum of 10 years in prison for the crime.
How are people being recruited?
People are being recruited in several ways, including word of mouth, friends, or classmates, but often through social media platforms such as TikTok. On these platforms, human smuggling facilitators post ads promising clean routes and thousands of dollars. Some ads promise no encounters with law enforcement or a safe return.
Once someone responds, the facilitator moves the conversation to an encrypted app like Signal or WhatsApp, where they’re provided further instructions, including a pin drop of where to go to pick up their human cargo. Oftentimes those recruited don’t even know who they’re transporting when they start their journey from different parts of the country.
Soldiers, too, are drawn from all over, and those stationed in Texas are expected to remain there for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, Abbott is adding more razor wire in Eagle Pass and announced an additional $30 million in funding for Operation Lone Star, despite an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into potential civil rights violations.
Since it was launched in 2021, Operation Lone Star has cost Texans over $4 billion and has led to more than 500,000 apprehensions.