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Texas DPS recently released dramatic footage of a dangerous high-speed pursuit involving a human smuggler who recklessly maneuvered through traffic and drove against oncoming vehicles.

The incident unfolded in Val Verde County along US-277, where Jose Rigoberto Perez Calderon, an El Salvadoran national, led authorities on a perilous chase in a Honda Civic. The situation became particularly harrowing when Calderon drove into opposing traffic, barely avoiding a catastrophic collision with an oncoming semi-truck.

The pursuit ended when Calderon abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot, accompanied by four undocumented passengers. Law enforcement eventually apprehended Calderon, who was concealed in nearby brush, charging him with human smuggling. The four passengers, identified as Mexican and Honduran nationals, were also taken into custody by DPS officers.

Texas has emerged as a leader in addressing border security challenges during the Biden administration, maintaining a strong stance despite federal opposition. This commitment was exemplified by Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s 2021 initiative, Operation Lone Star, which mobilized the Texas National Guard and DPS to combat unauthorized border crossings, apprehend individuals without legal status, and prevent drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl.

While border protection falls under federal jurisdiction, as outlined in Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution, which states: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.”

The current administration’s approach contrasts sharply with former President Trump’s border security policies, with critics arguing that recent measures are undermining previous border control efforts.