RIGHT SPEAK: Three More States Sending National Guard Troops to US-Mexico Border; These are the States Sending National Guard Troops to Southern Border

Three more states sending National Guard troops to US-Mexico border:

The governors of Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina on Wednesday joined a growing list of Republican leaders sending their state National 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 an executive order directing the deployment of 100 Virginia National 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.

“The ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,” Youngkin said in a statement. “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.”

President Joe Biden announced in early May plans to send 1,500 active-duty troops to the border, in addition to the 2,500 National 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’ Operation Lone Star, which is separate from the active duty and National 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. Critics have questioned 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 National Guard troops initially complained of low morale, late paychecks and having little to do.--->READ MORE HERE

Richard Drew/AP

These are the states sending National Guard troops to southern border:

A group of Republican-led states is answering Gov. Greg Abbott's (R-TX) call for help with guarding the United States's southern border as the state struggles to curb an immigration crisis.

A total of 13 states have pledged their assistance so far, sending at least 1,305 National Guardsmen and 231 law enforcement personnel to assist with Abbott's Operation Lone Star.

“President [Joe] Biden has abandoned his constitutional responsibility to secure the border and continues to fail to prevent millions of migrants from illegally crossing into our country," the governors said in a joint statement on Thursday. "Every state is a border state and Republican governors — together — are stepping up to protect Americans where Biden has failed.”

Here is a closer look at what each of the 13 states are contributing to combating the crisis on the southern border.

1. Arkansas

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR) directed approximately 80 Arkansas National Guardsmen to help Texas stem illegal immigration on Thursday. The troops are expected to arrive in Texas next month.

"President Biden’s failure at our southern border puts the entire country at risk. States must now step up where the President has failed to repel illegals, fight the cartels, and stop human and drug trafficking," Sanders said in a statement. "Arkansans have always been quick to step up when others are in need — this time is no different."