Oklahoma Governor Deploys 50 Guardsmen to Texas Border
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has ordered 50 National Guardsmen to be sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star. The guardsmen will assist the Texas National Guard with border control by manning security points and alerting local law enforcement to any illegal immigration and drug trafficking activity. They will be deployed for approximately 30 days. While they will be working near El Paso, they will not directly enforce immigration laws, as local law enforcement agencies will be responsible for investigating and detaining individuals involved in illegal activities. Stitt was joined by 12 other Republican governors, including Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Ron DeSantis, and Kristi Noem, in sending law enforcement personnel to the border. The governors issued a joint statement criticizing President Biden for failing to secure the border and announced a total of 1,305 National Guardsmen and 231 law enforcement personnel being sent to the Texas-Mexico border. Operation Lone Star was initiated by Abbott to address the increase in illegal border crossings, which he attributes to Biden’s immigration policies. Stitt has authorized up to 100 National Guardsmen to be deployed and plans to send 50 more next year.
