Angry Reactions Surface on Social Media as Texas Governor Confirms Plan to Send Guardsmen to Border

In a press conference held in the Texas capital of Austin on Monday, Gov. Rick Perry confirmed that he will be sending 1,000 National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley to help bolster security as the Border Patrol becomes more and more overwhelmed by the massive influx of Central American immigrants.

During the news conference, Governor Perry said that the south Texas border has been overwhelmed by the immigration crisis, especially near the Rio Grande Valley, as tens of thousands of unaccompanied Central American youth are entering the country alone.

Perry also said that criminals are exploiting the situation for human and drug trafficking.

Perry's announcement comes on the heels of his vocal criticism of President Obama's handling of the humanitarian crisis. Perry met with President Obama in Dallas recently to discuss the immigration issues at the border.  

Over 90,000 Central American children are expected to cross the border in the 2014 fiscal year as they flee violence, gangs and poverty in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Most of the children crossing the U.S. border are unaccompanied, and the majority of these youth are young girls.

The overcrowding at holding facilities in the Rio Grande Valley has left federal officials scrambling to find emergency shelters to house them, and busloads of youth have been making their way to other less-crowded facilities in hope of expediting the long intake process.

Across the nation, protesters and critics have pushed back against the transfers, and citizens are divided between staunch deportation and humanitarian efforts to help the children.

A number of reports, including those from Governor Perry, Texas law enforcement officials and local ranchers in the area have stated that Mexican drug cartels are benefiting from immigration crisis.

It is unknown at this point what role the troops will take in handling the border crisis. Governor Perry has previously stated that he wanted any National Guard deployment to use helicopters and have “arrest powers to support Border Patrol operations.”

But while conservatives and anti-immigration activists may be supportive of Rick Perry's efforts, not everyone reacted kindly to the news. Social media commentary exploded after the announcement, calling Rick Perry everything from a moron to brainless. 

Twitter users also questioned the legality of Perry's move, as borders are under federal jurisdiction.