The governors of Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina on Wednesday joined a growing list of Republican-led states sending their National Guard and other security agents to the southern border of the United States.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Yongkin, who is considered a possible presidential contender, announced an executive order sending 100 Virginia National Guard soldiers and 21 support elements. Henry McMaster of South Carolina and Jim Justice of West Virginia announced their deployments shortly thereafter, also in response to a request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
The announcements bring to at least eight the number of Republican-ruled states that have ordered the deployment of troops and other assistance since Abbott requested help a few weeks ago.
“The current border crisis facing our nation has turned all states into border states,” Youngkin stated in a statement. “As solutions at the federal level fall short, states are answering the call to protect our southern border, reduce the flow of fentanyl, combat human trafficking and address the humanitarian crisis.”
President Joe Biden announced in early May a plan to send 1,500 active-duty troops to the border, in addition to the 2,500 National Guard already in the area. These military personnel are tasked with taking entry data, providing storage support, and performing other administrative tasks so that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents can focus on their tasks. field, the White House said.
But the deployment of Virginia and other states with Republican governments has been with the specific mission of providing support to Operation Lone Star Texas (Lone Star), which is independent of active duty and members of the National Guard. who work with CBP.
Abbott launched the operation in 2021, arguing that the federal government was practically opening the doors to illegal immigration. Critics have questioned the effectiveness of the operation, to which billions of dollars have been allocated. Some arrests, including the discovery of small amounts of marijuana during traffic stops, appear to have little to do with border security, and some members of the Texas National Guard initially complained about low morale, delays in payments and lack of activities.
Abbott’s request this month came through the Emergency Management Assistance Agreement, which facilitates mutual aid at the state level across the country. Youngkin and McMaster also joined other governors who met in Austin last week to discuss border measures.
McMaster’s statement notes that the South Carolina mission is in the “planning phase,” with deployment to take place no later than July 1. Justice said he had approved sending up to 50 West Virginia National Guard soldiers and airmen for 30 days.
Youngkin’s order says the Virginia soldiers will report to a military command during their 30-day deployment, and not to local civilian authorities. The mission’s operating cost is $3.1 million, spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said in an email.
Younkin, a former investment executive who is barred by Virginia law from running for a second consecutive term, is frequently mentioned as a possible 2024 presidential hopeful. He declared a few days ago that he has no plans to run this year.
Ron DeSantis, presidential candidate and governor of Florida, is one of several governors who have announced plans to send National Guard soldiers and elements of other agencies to the border since Abbott submitted his request. Mississippi, Iowa, Tennessee and Nebraska have also offered assistance, while other Republican-controlled states have made similar deployments in recent years as part of their party’s criticism of Biden’s performance on the border.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the state deployments.
In Virginia, while some Republicans praised Youngkin’s decision, Democrats in the state called the move absurd, dishonest or politically motivated.
“Youngkin for president is something that is in the past; our Virginia National Guardsmen should not be used to further presidential ambitions, let alone wage a MAGA culture war, in Texas no less. I never thought I would see my state so affected,” state Senator Scott Surovell tweeted.
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