Steven Seagal: Texas Border Patrol Deputy
The action film star battles illegal immigration in Hudspeth County
Newly appointed Texas Border patrol deputy Steven Seagal will be hunting illegal Mexicans attempting to cross the 98 mile stretch of Mexico/U.S. border in Hudspeth County, Texas as early as January.
Seagal, 59, is primarily known for his acting career, starring in action movies “Machete” and “Under Siege.” He also has a 7th dan black belt in the Japanese Martial art of Aikido.
“Mr. Seagal is not in this for the celebrity or publicity,' said County Sheriff Arvin West, who swore Seagal in on Monday.
“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,” West added.
According to the Houston Chronicle, two Sheriff’s representatives traveled to California to make sure Seagal was serious about his interest in the position, which he inquired about 2 months prior.
The Houston Chronicle added that Seagal’s title will officially be “deputy chief to chief deputy.”
"The television aspect of what we're doing here is the last priority," Gary Fleming, Sheriff's department 17 spokesman, told the Houston Chronicle.
"The man has a pure motive in doing this. He knows what we're up against here and he wants to help."
Although Fleming argued that it is not Seagal’s motive to pursue fame via the new job, he did not mention whether Hudspeth County would pursue a reality show series featuring the Hollywood action star.
Steven Seagal was starring in the reality show “Steven Seagal: The Lawman,” in which cameras follow him as he acts as a deputy sheriff in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The show aired from 2009 to 2010, but production halted when Seagal’s personal assistant Kayden Nguyen sued him for sexual misconduct, charges for which were later dropped.
The show is currently airing on A&E.
Seagal has been accused of media hounding before. In September 2011, Seagal was accused of falsely taking credit for UFC fighter Jon Jones’s moves in the ring.
Seagal also has a history of human rights and animal rights activism, helping with non-profit relief organizations in Haiti and visiting children's hospitals in Moscow.
