Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) revealed on Tuesday that she plans to send state National Guard troops to assist Texas in its efforts to address the increase in migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Sanders stated, “President Biden opened our southern border to an invasion of illegal immigrants, drugs, and human trafficking and is now criticizing Texas for stepping up where his administration has failed. I’ve seen the crisis our President created firsthand, and I know the incredible men and women of the Arkansas Guard can help support Texas’ efforts to keep our border secure and our states safe.”
Sanders mentioned that around 40 Arkansas National Guard members will be dispatched to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R)’s border security operations. They will be in Texas from April 1 to May 30, according to the announcement.
The governor was part of a group of state leaders who went to the southern border of the country on Feb. 4. Last summer, Sanders sent approximately 80 members to the border and has done so a few other times as well.
Maj. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs said in a statement, “The Arkansas National Guard has a long history of assisting neighboring states in a crisis.”
In January, the Texas National Guard appeared to ignore a Supreme Court decision and continued putting up razor wire barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border, preventing the federal Border Patrol from doing its job.
Since then, Republican governors have joined Abbott in his standoff against the federal government. The Texas governor argues that he has authority to override federal law to address an “invasion.”
Sanders’ announcement is connected to an ongoing legal issue regarding Texas’ immigration authority as immigration becomes a significant issue ahead of the 2024 election. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court allowed a Texas law to take effect that granted state law enforcement the power to arrest people they believe are entering the country illegally.
Later Tuesday evening, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order putting the law on hold yet again. The appeals panel is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Wednesday morning.
