Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina announced Wednesday that they will send state resources and law enforcement to Texas to help control immigration.
"Porous borders further allow national security threats, violent criminals, and human traffickers to cross into the United States with impunity," wrote Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin in an executive order authorizing the dispatch of 100 national guardsmen and 21 Virginia support staff members to the southern border. "All states have become border states."
Executive Order Glenn Young... by Santiago Adolfo Ospital
Another fellow Governor steps up to help support Texas as we defend the border.
Thank you for answering the call, @GovernorVA.
With support like this, Texas continues to take historic action to respond to the crisis created by Biden's open border policies. https://t.co/B9y2Nss500
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 31, 2023
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced that he will also send troops to The Lone Star State to "help hold the line on the Southern border." Although he did not offer further details for the moment, he did justify the decision by arguing that it was necessary to defend the "safety and security of South Carolinians."
At the request of @GregAbbott_TX, I have directed the deployment of @SCNationalGuard troops to Texas to help hold the line on the Southern border. pic.twitter.com/v7QWEpUhkK
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) May 31, 2023
Up to 50 other troops will join those from South Carolina and Virginia. They will be soldiers from the West Virginia National Guard, according to a statement from Gov. Jim Justice's office.
I have authorized the deployment of up to 50 @WVNationalGuard soldiers and airmen to help secure our Southern Border, reduce the flood of fentanyl into our country and state, and combat human trafficking.
— Governor Jim Justice (@WVGovernor) May 31, 2023
The day before, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds had also ordered, for the second time, the deployment of state forces. Reynolds said she will send 100 national guardsmen and 30 Department of Public Safety personnel.
The consequences of an open Southern border can be felt across the country. We can’t sit back and do nothing like Joe Biden.
Today I authorized the deployment of the Iowa National Guard and Department of Public Safety personnel to help secure our border!https://t.co/DHk9qhKpdU
— Gov. Kim Reynolds (@IAGovernor) May 30, 2023
Request for assistance
In early May, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to fellow governors asking for their help in controlling the immigration crisis following the end of Title 42.
Florida Governor and GOP primary candidate Ron DeSantis was among the first to send assistance. From then to now, at least eight governors have responded with some kind of assistance to Abbott's plea, according to the AP.
All deployed troops will work with Texas law enforcement for a period of at least one month.
