Abbott to construct 'forward operating base' for National Guard border efforts

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday announced the construction of a "forward operating base" near the southern border to bolster the National Guard's efforts to secure the border in the face of perceived federal apathy toward the unprecedented surge in illegal crossings.

Abbott announced the base during a press conference in Eagle Pass. The base will be situated on 80 acres of land near Eagle Pass and able to house up to 1,800 troops in individual rooms, plus an additional 500 in the event of special deployments.

"Texas is expanding our border security capabilities by building a new Texas Military Department base camp to increase and improve border security operations in this area," he said. "This will increase the ability for a larger number of Texas Military Department soldiers in Eagle Pass to operate more effectively and efficiently."

"Texas would not be able to respond to President Biden's border crisis without the brave men and women of the Texas National Guard, and it is essential to build this base camp for them," he went on. 

The construction of the base is part of Operation Lone Star, Texas's unilateral effort to secure the border that has prompted a number of legal disputes with the federal government, including over the state's deployment of razor wire and a buoy barrier in the Rio Grande River.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.