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(NewsNation) — With January’s presidential inauguration nearing, Texas authorities are bracing for a potential migrant surge and an increasing number of unaccompanied children making the journey alone.
In Eagle Pass, Texas, migrant encounters are rising.
Over the weekend, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers encountered 116 migrants, including 11 children traveling alone — some as young as seven years old. These children often rely on strangers or pay smugglers to guide them through cartel-controlled areas, adding extreme risks to their journey.
Texas DPS has reported a surge in unaccompanied minors, with over 100 children arriving alone in the first half of October, many marked with colored wristbands by cartels, signaling payment for crossing through dangerous areas.
NEW: Cartel migrant bracelets have made it to the Del Rio sector— A tactic historically seen in the Rio Grande Valley.
Names written in marker on blue, green and yellow bracelets littered along the river banks on private property in Eagle Pass—The latest area to be exploited… pic.twitter.com/wRZhybw2dw
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) October 22, 2024
When these children encounter authorities, they often have little more than a note with a “sponsor” address. Recently, a group of unaccompanied minors was found with addresses to sponsors in states like New York, California, Colorado and Florida.
As of Nov. 1, there were 6,100 unaccompanied children in the care of the Department of Health and Human Services. The average stay per child lasts about 34 days and the department said it is focused on reducing the stay time while ensuring the child’s safety.
As more children cross alone, the surge is already a reality in Eagle Pass — even before the election results were known. Now, authorities are preparing for what could be an even bigger influx as January’s inauguration approaches.
With the anticipated surge before January’s inauguration, Texas has ramped up security under Operation Lone Star. In Brownsville and El Paso, National Guard soldiers, alongside local law enforcement, are running intense, battle-ready drills.
Captain Daniel Mannon of Task Force East said these exercises keep teams prepared for swift, coordinated action if large groups arrive.
In Eagle Pass, National Guard soldiers from Texas and Louisiana are fortifying key sections with razor wire and expanding the border wall in Cameron and Maverick Counties.
Officials believe these measures can help manage the surge, but the pressure is building, and they’re staying on high alert as January draws closer.