Galveston County law enforcement officers helping respond to Texas’ open border crisis described a dire situation in a recently published video. State officials have denied or not yet approved aid that a Texas border county requested, nor have they stopped illegal border crossings.

After Galveston County Judge Mark Henry sanctioned local law enforcement officers aiding Texas’ border counties in response to the open border crisis, Galveston officers came to help Kinney County, which lies approximately 360 miles west of Galveston and 200 miles southwest of Austin. The Galveston contingent consists of two constables, two deputy constables, and a sheriff’s deputy.

On August 25, Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith published a video of these officials sharing what they’ve witnessed.

“Man, was I surprised when I got down here several days ago,” Galveston County Constable Jimmy Fullen said.

In the video, law enforcement officials are shown pursuing and, in some cases, successfully arresting illegal aliens. The video’s footage is plentiful, taking place in broad daylight and the dark of night, in a small town and in the countryside. Some of the video shows a high-speed chase. Illegal aliens are shown jumping from vehicles and running in different directions from law enforcement, and officers are seen pursuing or rounding up anywhere from four to about 15 illegal aliens at a time.

Some illegals are seen hiding among trains, and Fullen mentioned encountering illegal aliens traveling with trains “coming through from Eagle Pass.”

There’s also the issue of what these illegal aliens are bringing with them. Galveston County Constable Justin West discussed an investigation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where “thousands of pounds of drugs” were seized. “Those drugs weren’t made locally,” he said.

Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe added that “nobody’s testing [the illegal aliens]” for the Chinese coronavirus.

There’s word out there that … anywhere between 40 and 50 percent of those that are coming through may be COVID positive. If they get through here, like I said, it’s going to affect us today; it’s going to affect the interior tomorrow.

Overwhelmed

Fullen explained how the Kinney County Sheriff’s Office is stretched thin. “It’s a small agency. They have six full-time deputies, and they’re just getting hammered, and the sheriff pleaded for our help.”

“Right now, with an increase of over 500 percent in their call volume with the agency as small as six and seven [officers], they just can’t maintain that kind of response,” West said.

“We just don’t have the people to keep up,” Coe said. “We’re being overwhelmed just on the fact that the president said, ‘Come on in.’”

Thus far, federal and state officials have made no effort to stop illegal border crossings. The Texas Department of Emergency Management previously denied Kinney County’s request to accept the help offered by several Florida sheriffs. Earlier this month, Coe requested other resources from the state. On August 26, Texas Scorecard asked him if approval had been given. “[Haven’t] heard a word,” he replied.

Coe is thankful for the help he has received from Galveston, calling it “a huge morale boost not only for Kinney County but for the DPS troopers, as well.”

“[It] shows that other people throughout the state actually care about what’s going on down here at the border, because what affects me today will affect them tomorrow,” he said.

Fullen emphasized the importance of the Galveston officers’ mission. “We have a crisis down on this border, and we are down here assisting on the southern border to try and keep that crime and those illegal elements from coming back to our hometowns.”

“Appreciate y’all answering the call to defend Texas sovereignty,” Charles Coppedge commented.

Robert Montoya

Born in Houston, Robert Montoya is an investigative reporter for Texas Scorecard. He believes transparency is the obligation of government.

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