Texas has arrested thousands at the US-Mexico border as state expands powers to arrest migrants

Texas is expanding a new operation to combat record-high crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, which includes allowing police officers to arrest migrants.

The new law comes after Texas first launched the smaller-scale operation to arrest migrants on misdemeanor trespassing charges in July 2021 as Texas-Mexico border crossings reached 1.2 million that fiscal year.

The initiative allows border landowners to enter agreements with the state authorizing trespassing arrests, clearing the way for law enforcement to apprehend migrants who enter the U.S. through those properties.