Since illegal immigration spiked in the Rio Grande Valley this summer, the Border Patrol has dispatched more agents, the Texas Department of Public Safety has sent more troopers and Gov. Rick Perry deployed as many as 1,000 guardsmen to the area.
The heightened security presence has created a coordination challenge further complicated by the arrival of an unknown number of citizen militia members and created anxiety among some residents of border communities.
Many more armed and camouflaged people now patrol the brush and direct communication among groups in the field is not always possible. A recent friendly fire incident involving a militia member prompted the Border Patrol this week to urge that law enforcement be left to the professionals.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.