Texas Guardsman Arrested For Migrant Smuggling
On Sunday, Specialist Savion Amari Donovan Johnson, a 26-year-old Texas National Guard soldier, was arrested after he allegedly attempted to smuggle a migrant across the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson led pursuers on a high-speed chase that reached dangerous speeds over 100 mph.
Deployed to Eagle Pass as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) Operation Lone Star — a robust initiative aimed at strengthening border security — Johnson’s arrest has shocked many, raising questions about the integrity of those tasked with protecting the border. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Kinney County Sheriff’s Department, the chase ended near Brackettville, Texas, using spike strips that disabled Johnson’s government-issued SUV.
Johnson now faces charges of evading arrest, smuggling of persons, and unlawful carry of a weapon. He was allegedly offered $5,000 to $6,000 for the smuggling operation, highlighting the lucrative lure of such illegal activities, even for those within the ranks of law enforcement and the National Guard.
Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe said, “We don’t know what’s going on in their lives to make them do this. But they’re going to get caught.”
Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, did not mince words in a statement to Fox News, labeling Johnson a “traitor and criminal” if the allegations hold. This incident occurred amid Abbott’s increased efforts to combat illegal immigration, including the passage of laws enabling local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants—a move met with legal challenges from the Biden administration.
The arrest throws into sharp relief the ongoing battle not just against illegal immigration but also against the internal threats posed by those who betray their oath for financial gain. It also reflects the growing desperation and lucrative nature of human smuggling, attracting diverse individuals, including, disturbingly, members of law enforcement and the National Guard.
Johnson’s arrest comes as Texas aggressively pushes for more autonomy over border security operations in response to the federal government’s abdication of its duties to enforce the immigration laws properly enacted by Congress.
