Republican governors are expressing support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s ongoing conflict with the Biden administration regarding immigration enforcement, with some considering the deployment of National Guard members to the border once again.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, among the first to pledge additional personnel to Texas, announced the dispatch of hundreds of additional guard members amidst rising tensions between state authorities and the U.S. government over the jurisdiction of enforcing immigration policies.
Republicans argue that stricter measures are necessary in response to the surge in illegal crossings. However, deploying National Guard members to the border is not a novel approach.
Republicans Governors, National Guard and the Texas Border: What to Know (Credits: NBC 5 Dallas)
DeSantis is part of a group of over a dozen Republican governors who have sent state National Guard units to the southern border since 2021. This recent deployment coincides with Texas denying U.S. Border Patrol agents entry to a key crossing point for migrants in Eagle Pass.
The focal point of the clash between Texas officials and the federal government is Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, a prominent location for illegal border crossings. The Texas National Guard has taken control of the park, turning away federal immigration authorities despite objections from U.S. government officials.
Abbott maintains his commitment to implementing new immigration measures, asserting a “constitutional right to self-defense.” The Supreme Court recently ruled that federal agents could remove razor wire placed by Texas officers along the border, but Texas has installed more in Eagle Pass, arguing it is not prohibited by the court order.
As part of Abbott’s border security initiative, additional measures include a floating barrier in the Rio Grande, contested by federal officials.
Several states, including Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Virginia, and West Virginia, have sent National Guard deployments ranging from a few dozen to over 100 members. South Dakota’s Gov. Kristi Noem was the first to send 50 guard members in 2021, funded by a private Republican donor, with an additional 50 deployed two years later.
Some governors, like Idaho Gov. Brad Little, have expanded beyond the National Guard, announcing plans to send additional state police members to Texas.
Guard deployments support Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, which was initiated shortly after President Biden took office. Their roles include surveillance for spotting illegal crossings, turning migrants over to federal immigration authorities, and installing barricades and razor wire. Some states reported direct involvement in human smuggling cases and arrests, while others faced low morale and uneventful patrols.
While trespassing arrests have been integral to Abbott’s border mission, a new state law scheduled to take effect in March may phase them out, allowing police across Texas to arrest suspected illegal migrants.
In Massachusetts, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey activated hundreds of guard members last August to assist with migrants, coordinating essential needs at shelters and hotels. Additionally, National Guard members from various states are supporting federal authorities in Texas for border security operations.
