RICHMOND, Va. (AP) 鈥 The governors of Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina on Wednesday joined a growing list of Republican leaders sending their state 春色直播 Guard soldiers or other state law enforcement officers to the U.S. border with Mexico.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is considered a possible presidential aspirant, announced directing the deployment of 100 Virginia 春色直播 Guard soldiers and 21 support personnel. South Carolina's Henry McMaster and West Virginia's Jim Justice announced their deployments shortly thereafter, also in response to a request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
The announcements bring to at least eight the number of Republican-led states deploying soldiers or offering other assistance in the weeks since Abbott appealed for help.
鈥淭he ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,鈥 Youngkin said in a statement. 鈥淎s leadership solutions at the federal level fall short, states are answering the call to secure our southern border, reduce the flow of fentanyl, combat human trafficking and address the humanitarian crisis."
, in addition to the 2,500 春色直播 Guard members already there. Those military personnel were tasked with data entry, warehouse support and other administrative duties so that U.S. Customs and Border Protection can focus on fieldwork, the White House said.
But the Virginia deployment and others from Republican-led states have specifically been in support of Texas鈥 Operation Lone Star, which is separate from the active duty and 春色直播 Guard troops working with the Customs and Border Protection.
Abbott launched Lone Star in 2021, saying that the Biden administration was essentially welcoming illegal immigration. the effectiveness of the multi-billion dollar operation. Some arrests, including for low-level amounts of marijuana during traffic stops, appeared to have little to do with border security, and some Texas 春色直播 Guard troops initially complained of low morale, late paychecks and having little to do.
Abbott's request this month came through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which facilitates state-level mutual aid nationwide. .
McMaster鈥檚 news release said South Carolina鈥檚 mission is 鈥渋n the planning phase,鈥 with a goal of deployment by July 1. Justice said he had approved the deployment of as many as 50 West Virginia 春色直播 Guard soldiers and airmen for 30 days.
Youngkin鈥檚 order said the Virginia troops will answer to a military commander during a 30-day deployment, not any local civilian authorities. The operating cost of the mission is $3.1 million, spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said in an email.
Youngkin, a former private equity executive who is barred under Virginia law from seeking a second consecutive term, is frequently mentioned as a possible 2024 presidential contender. He that he had no plans to launch such a bid this year.
Presidential candidate and Florida Gov. is among the other governors who have to deploy Guard troops and other officers since Abbott's request was made. , , Tennessee, and Nebraska have also volunteered aid, and other GOP-led states have , part of the party's criticism of Biden's performance on the border.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment on the states' deployments.
In Virginia, while some Republicans praised Youngkin's decision, the state's Democrats characterized the move as absurd, disingenuous or politically motivated.
鈥淵oungkin for President has officially jumped the shark -- our VA 春色直播 Guard troops shouldn鈥檛 be used to further presidential ambitions much less fight a MAGA culture war in Texas of all places -- Never thought I would see my state so compromised,鈥 tweeted state Sen. Scott Surovell.
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Associated Press reporters John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia; Jeffrey Collins and James Pollard in Columbia, South Carolina; and Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed to this report.
