US News
US Army deploys hundreds more troops to Texas' Rio Grande Valley
ABC News reports the Army is adding hundreds of soldiers to the Rio Grande Valley, where officers describe a now-quiet river stretch.
The short version
- The Army is sending hundreds more soldiers to Texas' Rio Grande Valley this month, citing elevated cartel activity.[ABC News]
- Army Lt. Col. Ray Richards says a river stretch that was once a busy illegal crossing point is now quiet.[ABC News]
- The Coast Guard says gunfire came from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande last month near Garceno, Texas, with no injuries reported.[ABC News]
- Some experts question the surge's strategic value, while Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor calls the work vital and effective.[ABC News]
Key facts
- The Army is deploying hundreds of soldiers to the Rio Grande Valley this month by shifting some of the thousands of troops already on the 2,000-mile border.[ABC News]
- U.S. officials say the surge follows signs of elevated cartel activity and increased cooperation from the Mexican military.[ABC News]
- The Army now commands some 8,000 U.S. troops along the entire border, and the Coast Guard and Texas law enforcement have added personnel.[ABC News]
- The Coast Guard said it encountered gunfire from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande last month near Garceno, Texas, and Americans returned fire; none were hurt.[ABC News]
- Mexico sent 500 National Guard and military officers to Tamaulipas this month as part of a coordinated effort with the U.S. to prevent drug and human trafficking.[ABC News]
- Gen. Curtis Taylor, who commands the military's southern border task force, said the work has been vital and effective, particularly against human trafficking.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the surge is effective is disputed: some experts say it is more about politics than strategy, while Army and Border Patrol officials describe their operations as effective.[ABC News]
- The rationale for Mexico's Tamaulipas deployment comes from a Mexican federal official who spoke on condition of anonymity.[ABC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.