Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday ordered 100 National Guard troops to the southern border to help interdict drug and people smuggling at the request of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
In a statement Wednesday, Youngkin announced that he has signed an executive directive to send troops to the border to support Abbott’s Operation Lone Star. In March, Abbott called on other Republican governors to send troops to the southern border through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which allows states to send resources in times of disaster or crisis. Youngkin cited the increased flow of illegal drugs and human smuggling across the border that he said is «devastating Virginia families and communities.»
“The current border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,” Youngkin said. «As 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.»
Youngkin said his move comes after a briefing from Abbott last week.
“Given the intensive demands on resources in Texas, the dangers posed by the fentanyl crisis, and the impact of the border crisis on criminal activity in the Commonwealth, Virginia will do its part to assist the efforts of the State of Texas with the coordinated deployment of Virginia National Guard Soldiers to assist in key aspects of their mission,” Youngkin said.
Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.
Youngkin’s executive directive comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, announced this month that he is sending more than 1,100 state law enforcement officers and National Guard members to the Texas-Mexico border. The number is a tenfold increase compared to a similar move in 2021.
DeSantis’ announcement aired weeks before he launched his 2024 presidential campaign last week. DeSantis’ office at the time said staff would be at the border for 30 days, with possible extensions.
Both Abbott and DeSantis have blamed President Joe Biden for the influx of immigrants at the southern border. DeSantis signed a sweeping immigration reform bill a day before the Biden administration ended Title 42, a Covid restriction that sped up the removal of immigrants. Meanwhile, Abbott has ferried immigrants to Democratic cities and told Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot in a letter this month that the move is necessary «until Biden secures the border to stem the influx of mass migration.»
gary grumbach contributed.