Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the state will deploy 100 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in support of Operation Lone Star, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to counter illegal immigration and drug trade.
Texas submitted a request for aid to all states and territories via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, according to a May 31 news release. Youngkin said with the resource demands on Texas, fentanyl crisis dangers and the impact the border crisis creates through criminal activity, Virginia will do its part to assist efforts in Texas through the coordinated deployment of Virginia National Guard soldiers to assist in key aspects of their mission.
“The ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,” Youngkin said in the release. “As leadership solutions at the federal level fall short, states are answering the call to secure our southern border, reduce the flow of fentanyl, combat human trafficking and address the humanitarian crisis.”
Instability along the southern border, with an increase in the illegal drug supply and human trafficking, is a problem that affects all states, not just border states, Youngkin said in the release. Fentanyl and other illegal drugs “are devastating Virginia families and communities."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that, in fiscal year 2020, there were 458,088 encounters at the southern border. Fiscal year 2023 already has had 1,431,964 encounters.
In April, 16 people who are on the FBI’s terror watch list were stopped by Border Protection agents at the border, Fox News reported. That was more than fiscal years 2017-20 combined.
“Idaho, Florida, Nebraska and Tennessee have answered the call to support our historic border security mission," Abbott said in a Twitter post May 26. Every state is a border state under Biden's open border policies. I urge other Governors to join our response to Biden's border crisis."
NBC News reported Florida Gov. Ron Desantis announced he will send upwards of 1,100 members of the National Guard and law enforcement to the southern border. This is 10 times the amount sent in 2021.
“The consequences of an open southern border can be felt across the country,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said on Twitter, after announcing she would also deploy troops to the southern border.
