LAREDO, Texas – A thousand Texas National Guard troops will soon be deployed to help secure the Texas-Mexico border.
The troops will assist local, state and federal law enforcement combat the ongoing cartel threat, human traffickers and individual crimes.
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The majority of the troops will be stationed in the Rio Grande Valley.
Residents in Laredo hope they'll also help stem the flow of illegal activity in their back yard.
"We see a lot of drugs crossing (the river.) We see a lot of people crossing. We've seen children crossing by themselves. We've seen pretty much about everything," said Yessica Acosta.
For many, the illegal activity is just part of living along the border.
"When the illegals cross, they come in bunches. They start running and border (agents are) right behind them. Sometimes we can't get inside our home," said Brenda Juarez.
It's unknown how the troops will be spread out along the border or how many will be deployed to Laredo.
"I guess any (amount) that they can send will help, but I don't know," Acosta said. "The more the better."
This will be the third time the National Guard is sent to the border. The first was in 2006; the second in 2010.