Global Courant 2023-06-01 01:23:41
Governor Glenn Youngkin has deployed 100 National Guard members as human rights lawyers decry the “militarization” of the border.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced that he will send soldiers to the United States border with Mexico, joining a growing list of Republican U.S. state leaders to do so.
In a directive on Wednesday, Youngkin authorized the deployment of 100 Virginia National Guard members and 21 support personnel, adding to a trend of border militarization that has been condemned by human rights groups.
“The ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,” Youngkin said in an accompanying press release. The governor explained that the move comes in response to calls from Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott for states to send military personnel to the border.
The announcement comes as Republican lawmakers seek to crack down on immigration and draw attention to what they describe as Democratic President Joe Biden’s failed border policy.
While Biden has rolled back access to asylum and retained some of the most restrictive immigration policies of his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, Republicans have attempted to paint the Democrat as overly lenient on immigration.
In early May, Biden sent 1,500 troops to the border to assist with administrative duties in anticipation of the end of Title 42, a Trump administration policy used to limit access to asylum under the pretext of protecting public health.
Immigrant rights groups criticized that decision, saying it was based on appearance rather than substance. They also warned the deployment could make the border less safe for asylum seekers, who may be fleeing war and violence.
The presence of military forces “perpetuates the idea that the border is a problem that can be solved through enforcement, in this case the deployment of the military,” Fernando Garcia, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera. at the time of Biden’s announcement.
Youngkin attributed Wednesday’s decision to the need to fight drug smuggling and human trafficking at the border. Irregular border crossings decreased in the immediate wake of Title 42’s expiration, though experts warn it’s too early to know if this is a long-term trend.
Youngkin’s decision was applauded by Republican officials such as Congressman Bob Good, who praised Virginia’s governor for his “leadership”.
Youngkin for president has officially jumped the shark – our VA National Guard troops should not be used to further presidential aspirations let alone wage a MAGA culture war in Texas of all places – Never thought I would see my state so compromised pic.twitter.com/IyZnrqWH1e
— Senator Scott Surovell (@ssurovell) May 31, 2023
On Tuesday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds also approved the deployment of 100 National Guard troops to the border.
Neither Iowa nor Virginia is near the border with Mexico, and some have criticized those moves as being politically motivated. Younkin would run for president in 2024.
“Youngkin for President has officially jumped the shark,” Virginia state senator Scott Surovell said on Twitter. Referring to an acronym for Trump’s slogan “Make American Great Again” (MAGA), Surovell condemned what he viewed as a political maneuver by Youngkin.
“Our VA National Guard troops should not be used to further presidential ambitions, let alone fight a MAGA culture war in Texas, anywhere,” Surovell said.
