Monday Jun 11, 2007 12:32:49 EDT Three Texas National Guard soldiers on duty along the U.S.-Mexico border were arrested June 9, accused of smuggling illegal immigrants, according to a press release from the Texas Guard.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents initiated the investigation and the soldiers are being held by civilian law enforcement officials.
Texas military officials are cooperating with the Border Patrol and will decide later if any future military justice actions against the soldiers are appropriate, according to the press release.
“Our military service members have an affirmative obligation to be actively supportive of our law enforcement partners at every level of government,” Lt. Gen. Chuck Rodriguez, adjutant general of the Texas Guard, said in a statement. “This is our duty. Any breach of the public’s trust and military law by our Soldiers will be thoroughly investigated.”
More than 33,000 soldiers and airmen have served in Operation Jump Start since it began more than a year ago, said Col. Bill Meehan, a spokesman for the Texas Guard.
Texas itself typically has 1,500 soldiers and airmen on its section of the border at any given time, he said.