Border Patrol to keep Texas immigration checkpoints open during hurricane

The United States Border Patrol says it is planning on keeping roadside immigration checkpoints along the Rio Grande River open during the landfall of Hurricane Harvey this weekend.

The agency released a statement on Thursday saying the checkpoints will remain open “unless there is a danger” to the public or the Border Patrol agents in the area.

“Border Patrol checkpoints will not be closed unless there is a danger to the safety of the traveling public and our agents. Border Patrol resources, including personnel and transportation, will be deployed on an as needed basis to augment the efforts and capabilities of local-response authorities,” Border Patrol agents said in a statement first reported by the Texas Tribune.

“The Border Patrol is a law enforcement agency and we will not abandon our law enforcement duties,” the statement added.

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Hurricane Harvey, which is currently a Category 2 hurricane, is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 storm late Friday or early Saturday. It is expected to be the largest hurricane to hit the United States since 2004 and the largest in the Texas region since 1999.

The governors of Texas and Louisiana have declared states of emergency ahead of Harvey’s landfall.

On Thursday, President Trump phoned both governors to pledge the federal government’s support for recovery efforts.

“President Trump called Governor Abbott to offer federal support for the State of Texas as Hurricane Harvey approaches the Gulf Coast. The President pledged all available resources from the federal government to assist in preparation, and rescue and recovery efforts,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wrote in a statement.

“The Governor thanked the President for his pledge of support and assured him that the state is working hand-in-hand with local and federal partners on all issues related to the storm,” the statement added.