Real life and fictional Hollywood have once again melded together, this time in the Longhorn State.
Well-known entertainment figure Steven Seagal has taken on an actual law enforcement role on the nation’s border.
Those who are contemplating crossing the Rio Grande and illegally entering west Texas may now find themselves at the mercy of the action movie star.
Seagal, who incidentally has experience serving as a Louisiana police deputy, recently sought out a position patrolling the U.S.-Mexican border. He was sworn in last week in Hudspeth County, which is located along the Rio Grande east of El Paso.
According to County Sheriff Arvin West, Seagal pursued the job for noble reasons.
“Mr. Seagal is not in this for the celebrity or publicity,” West, who once urged citizens in his jurisdiction to buy a gun and “learn how to use it,” told Reuters. “He has a sincere passion for his country and he wants to do more to help. I think he will make a significant contribution to this office and to our community.”
Hudspeth County has unfortunately had to confront a host of serious border problems including illegal immigration and drug cartels. On a side note, Willie Nelson was arrested in the same county on marijuana charges, and two reality TV shows with border issue themes are currently being produced there.
With his martial arts acumen, Seagal may truly be able to give the department an assist. He was the first foreigner to operate an Aikido dojo in Japan, and he lent his expertise to help train Brazilian mixed martial artists Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida.
Seagal is best known for his 1980s and 1990s action movie success in films such as "Above the Law" and "Under Siege." He is presently starring in A&E’s reality show “Steven Seagal: Lawman,” which focuses on the actor's experience as a reserve deputy in New Orleans. His latest film role is in the Robert Rodriguez grindhouse movie, "Machete."
Ironically, Seagal’s character in "Machete" is a Mexican drug lord.
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