Ricketts, State Patrol Superintendent Defend Troopers Deployment

In late June, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the deployment of 25 troopers to Del Rio, Texas at the request of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who declared an emergency at the border. Thursday, State Patrol Superintendent John Bolduc said the troopers were returning home. Bolduc said they’d assisted in more than 500 vehicle stops and 25 vehicle inspections that resulted in several arrests for drugs and weapons. They also helped in more than 15 arrests for human smuggling and for sexual offenses against minors, and helped turn over 1,600 migrants to Customs and Border Protection. Capt. Jason Scott, who led the deployment, talked about finding migrants wandering around in the brush country without food or water. Scott said most seemed to feel like they were being rescued.