Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen Takes Action, Backs Operation Lone Star in Texas
Governor Jim Pillen has announced that over 60 Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers will be deployed to the Texas border to assist with Operation Lone Star. Their mission, starting on August 2nd and lasting until early September, will involve providing additional observation and reporting to aid security and law enforcement efforts in the region.
Governor Pillen emphasized the importance of this mission for Nebraska and neighboring states, stating that it is essential to ensure the safety of citizens and curb the inflow of illegal drugs, weapons, and criminals across the borders.
The decision to deploy the Nebraska soldiers came after Governor Pillen participated in a security briefing hosted by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in May. Governor Abbott recently provided updates on Operation Lone Star's efforts, reporting a significant number of apprehensions of illegal immigrants, criminal arrests, felony charges, and seizures of fentanyl.
Governor Pillen criticized President Biden's border policies as ineffective and believes that states must unite to tackle the issue collectively, in order to prevent potential unidentified threats.
The deployment of the National Guard soldiers to Texas is in response to a request from emergency management officials in Texas, and the costs associated with this deployment will be covered by federal funds directed through the Nebraska National Guard.
Earlier, Governor Pillen had already sent 10 state troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol to assist with drone surveillance operations in Texas. The Nebraska soldiers' deployment is expected to last about a month, during which they will undergo administrative and medical processing before heading to the border.