EAGLE PASS, Texas— Soldiers of the Texas National Guard are putting into action state of the art optical equipment to monitor illegal border crossings and criminal activity in Shelby Park.
Shelby Park has become ground zero for human smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal immigrant crossing into the US, posting staggering numbers of crossings late last year. The Guard took complete control of the park under the Governor’s emergency declaration in early January. The strategy to control the park was a multi-faceted approach including personnel, equipment and capabilities brought to bear by Joint Task Force Lone Star.
The Guard’s array of military capabilities is a force multiplier for law enforcement partners along the entire border. Specifically, advanced optics are being utilized by Soldiers to provide timely and accurate information to task force leadership and partners.
One such capability is the Modular Mobile Surveillance System. The M2S2 capability consists of the ability to detect, identify, classify, and track equipment, vehicles, people, and used to track suspected unlawful border crossing activities.
“This is cutting edge and exciting technology that the Texas Military Department has access to,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Boyle, Task Force Eagle M2S2 operator. “We are on the forefront of a new concept out here on the [border]. It’s a great opportunity to get versatile and familiar with how to use the equipment.”
Boyle, along with his fellow system operator, identified a small group of illegal border crossers in Shelby Park. The team radioed the mobile sergeant of the guard to respond to the area of Shelby Park to interdict the criminal activity. After a short period of searching and optic support from the M2S2, the SOG vehicle apprehended and referred the illegal migrants to the Department of Public Safety.
“We are in a situation to provide support not only Texas National Guard Soldiers but provide other partner entities like Department of Public Safety valuable information about operations,” Boyle added. “Today, we aided in the rescue of a drowning child by providing location information to our partners.”
The Texas National Guard, in conjunction with interagency partners, is dedicated to preventing illegal migrant crossings from Mexico to the US and stopping cross-border illicit narcotics trafficking.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2024 12:05 |
| Story ID: | 465895 |
| Location: | EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Advanced Optical Equipment Overwatches Shelby Park, by MAJ Michael Perry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
