Global Courant 2023-05-31 20:34:51
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday that the state is sending National Guard troops to the southern border to help Texas with the ongoing crisis on the border with Mexico. and troops.
“The ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “With leadership solutions at the federal level falling short, states are heeding the call to secure our southern border, reduce the flow of fentanyl, fight human trafficking and address the humanitarian crisis.”
Youngkin said the 100-troop deployment came after a briefing from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has asked for help from other states in dealing with the historic migrant crisis now entering its third year.
There were more than 1.7 million encounters with migrants in FY 2021 and more than 2.3 million in FY22. There have been more than 1.4 million migrant encounters recorded so far in FY 23 through the end of April, with five months left of the fiscal year.
GOP LED STATES STEP UP WITH TROOPS, LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP TEXAS TACKLE BORDER PROBLEMS
Migrants wait in line next to the border fence supervised by the Texas National Guard to enter El Paso, Texas on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton, File)
The number soared before Title 42 was terminated earlier this month, and there was widespread concern that the termination of the injunction – which allowed for the rapid deportation of migrants at the border due to COVID-19 – would see an even bigger rise if in continuation to. However, the number has so far dropped sharply since the order.
In a statement, Youngkin also mentioned concerns about the flow of fentanyl into the US across the land border. The drug, responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans each year, is made primarily in Mexico using Chinese precursors. Youngkin’s office said an average of five Virginians die each day from the illegal narcotics.
“Given the intense demand for resources from Texas, the dangers of the fentanyl crisis, and the impact of the border crisis on criminal activity for the Commonwealth, Virginia will do its part to assist the State of Texas in the coordinated deployment of Virginia National Guard soldiers to assist in important aspects of their mission,” said Youngkin.
MISSISSIPPI REEV TATE REEVES SENDS NATIONAL GUARD TO US-MEXICO BORDER
The announcement follows similar announcements made in recent weeks from Tennessee and Nebraska, Mississippi and Florida announcing deployments.
DESANTIS SENDS FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT, NATIONAL GUARD TO THE TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER TO HELP WITH THE MIGRANT CRISIS
Tennessee announced the deployment of 100 National Guard members, while Nebraska announced the deployment of 10 state troopers.
Florida, announced the availability of more than 1,100 assets and resources, including 101 Highway Patrol personnel, 200 Department of Law Enforcement officers, 800 National Guard soldiers, emergency management personnel, 17 unmanned aerial vehicles and 10 craft, including airboats.
The Biden administration has been cautious about such efforts, with officials recently suggesting Florida’s move was politically motivated.
“Excellent coordination takes place every day at the local level. However, we have sometimes seen Governor DeSantis and (Texas Governor Greg Abbott) take actions that are really done for purely political reasons and don’t involve the kind of coordination that we really need to the border,” Department of Homeland Security official Blas Nunez-Neto told reporters earlier this month.
“We have confidence in our men and women on the front lines, in the ability to conduct their border operations in a safe, humane and secure manner. And we call once again on the governors to ensure that whatever steps they take are taken in coordination with our federal staff,” he said.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or at Twitter.
