In response to record-breaking crossings and unauthorized entry into the country, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) approved the deployment of 100 Tennessee National Guard soldiers this week.
In assisting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has urged the Biden administration to take tougher action to curb the influx of individuals entering the US from Mexico, Lee joined other GOP governors including Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
In a statement received by The Daily Wire, Lee stated, “America continues to deal with an unprecedented border emergency that threatens the security of the country including the safety of Tennesseans. While states continue to respond to this crucial call to duty, the United States government owes Americans a strategy to safeguard our nation. I have given the Tennessee National Guard new authorization to assist in securing the Southern border, and I applaud these soldiers for their crucial cooperation.”
In support of Abbott’s “Operation Lone Star,” the Tennessee soldiers will assist with border patrol, barrier construction, road clearing, and outpost activities, according to the governor’s office. Lee also ordered around 50 soldiers to the border in December 2021, so Tennesseans have been deployed to the border before.
Brigadier Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, said that “the members of the National Guard are always eager to serve their country wherever, whenever. These warriors are a competent group that will carry on our long-standing history of stepping up to help our countrymen. The Tennessee National Guard is honored to assist and support our state allies in protecting America’s southern border.”
President Biden’s administration witnessed a record number of border crossings in the days before Title 42, a Trump-era provision that permitted Border Patrol to send away migrants due to COVID worries, expired. Illegal border crossings have continued to be a problem under President Biden. The week after Title 42 expired, the Border Patrol estimates that 83,000 migrants crossed the border.
Following a united statement from 24 Republican governors criticizing the Biden administration for its border policy and endorsing Abbott, Lee took these actions.
“Every state is a border state as a result of the destructive inflow of narcotics into our communities, which has had a negative impact on all of the states. GOP governors are paving the way in addressing the border problem by, among other things, raising fentanyl penalties and supporting drug enforcement operations.”
As hazardous narcotics have continued to be transported over the border, legislators have paid special attention to drug-related fatalities. The state’s Bureau of inquiry in Tennessee has expressed concern over narcotics associated with Mexican cartels, who it claims are “very involved with operations in Tennessee.”
