BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin toured border infrastructure and met with federal personnel Tuesday during his first visit to South Texas since taking the department’s top post.
Mullin visited Camp Monument in Brownsville and reviewed surveillance and enforcement operations in the Rio Grande Valley. The tour included an autonomous surveillance tower, meetings with U.S. Border Patrol and Coast Guard personnel, and a look at floating barriers installed in the Rio Grande.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and Border Patrol Chief Rosario “Pete” Vasquez joined the secretary during portions of the visit.
Federal and state authorities have installed more than 9 miles of buoys along sections of the river, and officials have said an additional 7.5 miles are planned. The barriers remain part of a wider border-enforcement strategy that also includes patrol roads, cameras, towers and sections of steel barrier.
The Rio Grande Valley historically has been one of the nation’s busiest corridors for unlawful border crossings and commercial traffic. Federal officials have reported substantially lower migrant encounters in recent months while continuing to emphasize drug interdiction, maritime security and surveillance.
The visit gave Mullin an on-the-ground review of how agents use technology and infrastructure in a region that includes river, ranchland and coastal environments. It also highlighted the Coast Guard’s role in border and maritime operations near the mouth of the Rio Grande and the Gulf.
Homeland Security officials had not released a detailed public schedule or new policy announcement connected to the trip as of Wednesday.
