‘Every State Has Become a Border State’: Mississippi Sends National Guard to Texas

Texas National Guard troops set up a "choke point" near an illegal border crossing near El Paso, Texas, on May 9, 2023. John Moore/Getty Images

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves announced on Wednesday the deployment of Mississippi National Guard troops to the southern border, saying that every U.S. state has become a border state, with trafficked drugs impacting the entire country.

Reeves, who mobilized the National Guard in response to an urgent call for help from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, expressed concerns over the Biden administration’s handling of border security, citing the influx of drugs and illegal immigration as a threat to public safety.

“Every state has become a border state, and every day we’re seeing the terrible impact of this humanitarian and national security crisis,” Reeves wrote on Twitter. “What happens at the border doesn’t stay there. Drugs and people are trafficked to every state in the nation—including Mississippi.”

Troops from the state’s 112th Military Police Battalion have been mobilized to support Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agents along the southwestern border to enhance surveillance, deter smuggling activities, and provide additional support in managing the border situation. They will join law enforcement support sent by Florida and Idaho.

The Biden administration has estimated that there may be around 150,000 migrants seeking to illegally cross the border into Texas communities after the expiration of Title 42.

“Emboldened Mexican drug cartels and other transnational criminal enterprises profit off this chaos, smuggling people and dangerous drugs like fentanyl into communities nationwide,” Abbott said in a letter to fellow governors, in which he asked for support via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which allows states to collaborate and share resources during emergencies or disasters.

Reeves believes the deployment of National Guard troops is a necessary step to protect Mississippians from the consequences of uncontrolled borders. He expressed gratitude toward the Guardsmen and CBP officers for their service in safeguarding the nation.

Texas has mobilized its recently formed “Tactical Border Force” and stationed them in several key areas along the state’s southern border. Their mission is to repel large groups of migrants trying to enter Texas illegally.

In a separate move, President Joe Biden has dispatched 550 active-duty troops to support operations at the southern border, with an additional 900 soldiers, Marines, and airmen expected to join them by the end of May. The task of these troops will be to help monitor and watch the border or do data entry and support, according to Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder. The troops will not be interacting directly with the immigrants in any way, Ryder said, adding that their main goal is to free up CBP personnel to do law enforcement activities.

At the moment, about 2,500 federal National Guard members are already assisting CBP across the entire length of the border.

Border Security

The issue of border security has been a contentious topic in recent years, with differing viewpoints on the best approach to address the challenges at the border. The Biden administration has faced criticism from Republicans who argue that lax immigration policies have contributed to increased drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

The Title 42 border policy implemented during the Trump administration was officially lifted at midnight on May 11. However, the replacement policies proposed by the Biden administration, which would permit the release of illegal immigrants into the country without a court date, have been halted by federal court actions.

Since the Title 42 policy was enacted in March 2020, U.S. officials were able to quickly remove over 2.8 million asylum seekers and illegal immigrants who arrived at the southern border during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing concerns about preventing the spread of the virus.

In anticipation of the policy’s expiration, tens of thousands of migrants have made their way to the U.S.–Mexico border, expecting a significant change in the immigration policy landscape.

The Biden administration has introduced new policies that provide a pathway for migrants to enter the United States. Under these policies, individuals can apply online through a government app, have a sponsor, and undergo background checks in order to be considered for entry.

Federal officials have estimated that roughly 10,000 illegal immigrants per day will be apprehended at the southern border after the expiration of Title 42. On May 9, around 11,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended in a single day. Other reports indicate the number has reduced to around 5,000 per day for the last few days.

Texas law enforcement has seized over 400 million lethal doses of fentanyl through Operation Lone Star, a mission established soon after Biden took office to counter his “administration’s refusal to secure the border.”

Since then, Texas has apprehended more than 376,000 illegal immigrants and made over 28,000 criminal arrests, with over 25,000 felony charges, Abbott said in his letter.

“Operation Lone Star has also seized more than 416 million lethal doses of fentanyl that would have otherwise spread into communities across the nation,” Abbott wrote. “That’s enough deadly fentanyl to kill every man, woman, and child in the United States.”

Reeves said that his state is paying close attention to the situation at the border.

“Mississippi stands with those trying to secure our border and we will continue to do everything we can to assist,” Reeves said. “I’m thankful for the service of Mississippi’s brave Guardsmen, CBP, and everyone else working to keep us safe.”