Immigrants accused of state crimes after illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border are now being detained in Texas. The new decision to apprehend immigrants is part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's intensified border security efforts.

On Wednesday, July 21, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said three people arrested under Abbott's border initiative were sent from Del Rio's hometown of Val Verde County to the Briscoe Unit in Dilley, Texas Tribune reported.

The number of detainees is seen to grow rapidly, with the Val Verde County attorney predicting about 50 arrests of immigrants daily, which could go up to as many as 200 a day by August.

According to the Val Verde County sheriff's office, the immigrants were reported to be arrested on accusations of criminal trespassing.

County officials earlier said that state police would start arresting immigrants who are crossing the border illegally. The grounds in arresting them would be trespassing and criminal mischief charges. However, these misdemeanors could result in up to a year in jail.

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Arrests of Illegal Immigrants in Texas

Greg Abbott first announced his plans to arrest immigrants in June. He also said that Texas would continue building the border wall that former President Donald Trump had pursued during his presidency.

Greg Abbott then called on other governors to release law enforcement and National Guard members to the southern border, ABC News reported.

Val Verde County Attorney David Martinez said that all of those arrested so far were single adult men. The forecasted increase in immigrant detainees would overwhelm not only their office but also their entire system, according to Martinez.

Martinez noted that from his understanding, the state troopers would not arrest family units. Robert Hurst, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said that detainees are currently being held at an empty state prison in Dilley.

The converted facility will be able to house more than 950 people, according to the spokesman. Greg Abbott said during his visit in the area that the state jail commission has found a way to jail more people that are currently being detained, CBS Local reported.

Weeks ago, some 150 guards were working in an empty prison to enact Abbott's plans to convert the state-run jail for immigrants who would cross the border illegally.

Michele Deitch, a senior lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin's public affairs school, said the conversion of the prison to jail is being done on the fly.

She noted that she does not think anyone "has thought through any of this." Deitch is also known to be an expert on prison and jail conditions, according to another Texas Tribune report.

Abbott earlier said that Texas would not sit idly as the border crisis grows, despite the federal government's responsibility to secure the border.

A spokesperson for the governor noted that the prison-turned-jail would only detain adult males charged with a state crime without detailing the type of crimes. 

Texas county jails are required to be cooled at or below 85 degrees. However, Briscoe, like most Texas prisons, lacks air conditioning in housing areas.

Deitch said the facility should be in compliance with the Commission on Jail Standards minimum standards if officials will convert a prison to a jail.

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This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

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