A Texas National Guard soldier was detained on Sunday for allegedly trying to smuggle a migrant across the border between the United States and Mexico. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott labeled him a traitor.
The soldier was stationed at Eagle Pass as part of Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said that 26-year-old Savion Johnson faces charges of resisting arrest, smuggling of persons, and carrying a weapon unlawfully.
According to Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe, the soldier reversed when he approached a pop-up Border Patrol checkpoint off Highway 674 that had only been in place for a few days.
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After being alerted to this activity, agents tried to stop the SUV. Texas DPS officers deployed spike strips to bring the SUV to a stop.
When deputies from the Kinney County Sheriff’s Office arrived to help with the arrest, the soldier was taken out of the car so they could search him.
Johnson was taken into custody by DPS.
DPS charged Johnson with evading arrest, smuggling of persons, and unlawful carry of a weapon.
According to sources, Johnson was promised between $5,000 and $6,000 for the smuggling attempt.
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“I consider this person to be a traitor, a criminal fighting back against what we’re trying to do in the state of Texas,” Abbott said on Fox News. “We are using our national guard to repel and to stop illegal immigration. To have a member of the National Guard be involved in assisting illegal immigration is reprehensible. Know this, I just recently signed a law that increased the penalties for smuggling illegal immigrants to a mandatory minimum of 10 years behind bars.”
“This person is a traitor to the cause and mission of the National Guard, will be hopefully put behind bars for more than ten years. But let me use this as a public information message. If there is anybody who comes in and smuggles illegal immigrants, and you’re gonna be caught, you’re gonna be spending a long time behind bars in Texas,” said Abbott.
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