Texas Governor Greg Abbott has taken a significant step in tightening immigration policies in the state, announcing that the National Guard has been authorized to arrest migrants on Texas soil. This move, which marks an expansion of the uniformed forces’ capabilities on the border, follows an agreement between the state administration and the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), allowing the National Guard to perform immigration functions similar to those of immigration officers.
Through his account on the X platform, Abbott revealed that National Guard members will now be able to arrest migrants in the presence of Border Patrol agents and other immigration authorities, without the need for direct intervention by federal agencies. This move is a major shift in the approach to border control in Texas, which has traditionally been in the hands of federal authorities such as CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Although the DHS has so far not issued an official statement on the deal, media close to the Republican administration, such as Breitbart, confirmed that the National Guard is now empowered to perform ‘all the functions’ of an immigration officer, a move that has generated controversy over the limits of state authority versus federal control over immigration policy.
Challenging federal control and the future of immigration policies
This change in the Texas National Guard’s powers is part of a larger picture of tougher immigration policies that have characterized Abbott’s tenure since he took office in 2025. Since taking office, Abbott has adopted increasingly stringent border control measures, such as Operation Lone Star (OLS), which has allocated more than $11 billion to bolster security along the border with Mexico. Part of this strategy has been the deployment of more than 10,000 National Guard troops to stem the flow of migrants into the state.
A key point in this policy has been the limited ability of state forces to make immigration-related arrests, as federal law reserved that power to immigration authorities. However, with the new agreement between Texas and the Trump administration, a major shift has taken place, challenging existing regulations and giving Texas law enforcement greater powers to act in traditionally federal functions.
This move coincides with a general strengthening of the immigration stance of Donald Trump’s administration, who, as soon as he took office, signed executive orders declaring a ‘national emergency’ on the border with Mexico. These measures included the deployment of more than 1,500 troops and the use of military aircraft to deport thousands of migrants from countries such as Guatemala and Ecuador, to reduce the influx of migrants into the United States.
Heightened security with the National Guard
Thus, the agreement between Texas and the Trump administration represents a strengthening of border control and a new challenge to federal regulations, a move that could shape the direction of immigration policy for years to come. However, the impact this move will have on the relationship between the federal government and border states remains uncertain, and further debate is expected over the constitutionality and effectiveness of giving state forces such broad immigration functions.
