Republican governors from across the country gathered in Eagle Pass in February to address what Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called “President Joe Biden’s border crisis.” They vowed to send more National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border to assist in combating immigration issues and drug smuggling. However, these deployments have been criticized as political grandstanding during an election year.
Various states, including Georgia, South Dakota, Florida, and North Dakota, have sent troops to the border, with deployments ranging from a few weeks to months. The states generally fund these deployments through state budgets and emergency funds. Meanwhile, the federal government also deploys thousands of National Guard members to the border year-round.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott initiated Operation Lone Star in March 2021, leading to thousands of troops being deployed from the Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety. The operation has cost Texas over $11 billion to date, raising questions about the role of states versus the federal government in border security efforts.
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota have all participated in sending National Guard troops to the border. The deployments have sparked bipartisan criticism over funding sources and the utilization of guard members for what some see as non-military missions.
As tensions at the border persist, it remains to be seen how these state-led efforts will impact border security and immigration policies in the long run. The issue of border security continues to be a significant point of discussion among Republican governors and is likely to remain a key issue in the upcoming election cycle.
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