IT BEGINS

Texas Sends National Guard Troops to Mexico Border

Arizona plans to begin its own deployment next week.

Texas authorities began sending 250 National Guard personnel to the border with Mexico late Friday, becoming the first U.S. state to spring to action on President Trump’s calls for a military presence to keep undocumented immigrants out. Two Lakota helicopters carrying four National Guard members departed Austin’s Armed Forces Reserve Center just after 7 p.m. Friday, with the full deployment to be completed within 72 hours, authorities said. The National Guard will send surveillance vehicles and light and medium aircraft in addition to personnel. The move comes after Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to send National Guard troops to the border “until we can have a wall and proper security.” Defense Secretary James Mattis on Friday authorized funding for up to 4,000 National Guard personnel through Sept. 30, with Arizona and New Mexico vowing to begin their mobilizations in the days to come.