Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s ongoing dispute with the Biden administration over immigration enforcement has prompted other Republican governors to consider sending National Guard members to the border once again. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has already committed to sending hundreds of additional guard members to Texas, as tensions rise between state and federal authorities regarding the enforcement of immigration policies. While Republicans argue for tougher actions at the border due to high levels of illegal crossings, deploying guard members is not a new strategy. DeSantis is among a group of over a dozen Republican governors who have sent state National Guard units to the southern border since 2021. This latest deployment comes as Texas continues to deny entry to US Border Patrol agents at a popular crossing point for migrants in Eagle Pass. The clash between Texas officials and the federal government centers around Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, which has become a major location for illegal border crossings from Mexico. Immigration enforcement is typically the responsibility of the federal government, but Abbott claims it is a “constitutional right to self-defense” and will continue implementing new immigration measures. The installation of razor wire by Texas officers along the border has been a point of contention, with the Supreme Court ruling that federal agents have the authority to remove it. However, Texas has since added more razor wire in Eagle Pass, leading the Biden administration to argue that it hinders the work of federal agents. In addition to Florida, other states such as Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Virginia, and West Virginia have also sent National Guard members to support Abbott’s border security initiative. Some governors, like South Dakota’s Kristi Noem, have even gone beyond the National Guard and deployed additional members of their state police to Texas. These guard deployments assist Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, which began after President Joe Biden took office. They are primarily involved in surveillance activities, such as detecting illegal border crossings and handing over migrants to federal authorities. Guard members have also been responsible for installing barricades and razor wire. While some deployments have been successful in identifying and arresting individuals involved in human smuggling, others have experienced low morale and uneventful patrols. Trespassing arrests have been a significant component of Abbott’s border mission, but a new state law set to take effect in March may phase out this practice by allowing police across Texas to arrest migrants suspected of entering the US illegally. It is worth noting that not all National Guard members are assisting Texas. In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey activated hundreds of guard members last year to provide support for migrants, coordinating their basic needs at shelters and hotels. Additionally, National Guard members from various states are aiding border security operations in Texas under the command of federal authorities, even if their respective states have not deployed soldiers for Operation Lone Star.
Several Republican governors, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, are considering deploying National Guard members to the Texas border amid escalating tensions between state authorities and the Biden administration over immigration enforcement. This move comes as Texas continues to deny US Border Patrol agents entry to a popular crossing spot for migrants in Eagle Pass. Since 2021, more than a dozen Republican governors have already sent state National Guard units to the southern border. The deployments have primarily been in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s border mission known as Operation Lone Star, with guard members conducting surveillance, spotting illegal crossings, and assisting federal immigration authorities. However, some governors have also looked beyond the National Guard, with Idaho Governor Brad Little planning to send additional members of the state police to Texas. Not all National Guard members are being deployed to Texas, as some are assisting with border security operations under the command of federal authorities.
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