(NewsNation) — Agents working at the U.S. southern border are fearful that migrants attempting to enter the country illegally are becoming increasingly aggressive toward law enforcement, which has prompted concerns violence between asylum-seekers and officers and others working at the border may continue to escalate.
The Texas Department of Public Safety told U.S. Customs and Border Protection in a memo obtained by NewsNation that the migrant crisis now carries officer safety concerns after an incident last week when hundreds of migrants broke through razor wire fence and rushed past National Guard members working to secure the border.
Video of the incident in El Paso showed a group of men pulling down the concertina wire, which allowed the larger group of migrants to surge ahead, overwhelming the uniformed soldiers.
Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott sent the National Guard to the region to keep migrants from reaching the U.S. border, where they could seek asylum. Texas public safety officials wrote in the memo to CBP that lae enforcement officers are fearful that migrants will become more aggressive in efforts to circumvent the border barriers and enter the U.S.
On Tuesday, hundreds of Texas National Guard members who are trained specifically for border operations were sent to El Paso. The members of the Tactical Border Force were sent to the region on two airplanes to help bolster the border presence.
NewsNation has learned that the soldiers are the same troops who were deployed to the border at the end of Title 42, the quick reaction force, when the governor’s office sent other National Guard troops.
Abbott’s office has not responded to NewsNation’s request for comment
The razor wire that was torn down was set up as part of Operation Lone Star by Texas state officials. Once the group of migrants moved through the fence, they made their way toward the border wall, where they were obstructed by soldiers from moving any farther.
Nine migrants have been charged in the incident for their involvement. Criminal charges include inciting a riot as well as assault against members of the National Guard. Honduran national Junior Evaristo-Benitez, 21, also faces a third-degree felony charge of assaulting a public servant.
NewsNation has learned migrants had become frustrated after they were facing being sent back to Mexico, which escalated and led to the recent incident. All migrants were taken into Border Patrol custody. Texas law enforcement officials are currently viewing video footage of the incident to determine if additional charges will be filed.
The incident took place as Texas officials continue to go back and forth with the federal government over Senate Bill 4, which would allow local law enforcement to arrest people who enter the country illegally.
