Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sends 'tank like' vehicles to the border to deal with crisis

After declaring an invasion at the border, Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott reportedly has directed the Texas state military to send tank-like vehicles to specific parts of the border, the Washington Examiner reports.

The Texas Military Department told the Washington Examiner that the National Guard will deploy 10 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers to the border in the next few days. 

"Texas Military Department service members work side by side with the Texas Department of Public Safety & other law enforcement to stop illegal activities from crossing the Texas-Mexico border," Abbott tweeted on Monday. "Thank you for keeping our state safe." 

A statement given to the Examiner said that the Texas military is prepared to handle the border crisis and has the resources necessary. 

"These actions are part of a larger strategy to use every available tool to fight back against the record-breaking level of illegal immigration," the Military Department said in a statement to the Examiner. "The Texas National Guard is taking unprecedented measures to safeguard our border and to repel and turn-back immigrants trying to cross the border illegally."

Last week Abbott declared an invasion at the border and said he would use special powers granted to him by the state constitution to defend Texas. 

"I invoked the Invasion Clauses of the U.S. & Texas Constitutions to fully authorize Texas to take unprecedented measures to defend our state against an invasion," Abbott said in a statement last week. "I'm using that constitutional authority, & other authorization & Executive Orders to keep our state & country safe."