Iowa is sending more National Guard troops to the southern border using federal funds, the state’s Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a Wednesday statement.
The state will use funds it received from the American Rescue Plan to deploy 109 soldiers to support Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to enhance security at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the statement. Reynolds first deployed 1,305 national guard troops and 231 law enforcement personnel to help Abbott in June, along with 12 other Republican governors. (RELATED: Tim Scott To Make First Visit To Southern Border As Presidential Candidate)
“The Biden Administration has failed to respond to the crisis at the border and, in doing so, has failed the American people – Iowans included. They have created one of the most significant national security and humanitarian crises of our generation and are blatantly ignoring the impact it’s having on our states, cities, and our people,” Reynolds said.
The deployment will last until September, according to Reynolds’ statement.
“Iowa is deploying National Guard troops and personnel from the Department of Public Safety to protect the citizens and interests of our state by supporting Operation Lone Star and helping secure the U.S. Southern border,” Reynolds said.
A US Border Patrol is seen from Mexico while patrolling along the border line between the cities of El Paso, Texas, in the United States, and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico on April 7, 2018. (HERIKA MARTINEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Federal authorities at the southern border are seeing an increase in illegal crossings with roughly 130,000 encounters in July, up from roughly 99,000 in June.
As the situation unfolds, Iowa plans to deploy Iowa State Patrol officers at the end of August to support Texas’ criminal interdiction, crime prevention and traffic enforcement, according to Reynolds’ statement. Reynolds also plans to deploy an investigative team to support Texas authorities with narcotics, weapons and human trafficking investigations.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is withdrawing 1,100 active duty troops from the federal southern border mission.
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