Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox sent National Guard members and state troopers to Texas after the state requested emergency aid. Cox announced his support for Texas and the southern border’s protection on Friday, Feb. 9, via a post on X.
“Open borders threaten our national security and if the president and Congress won’t solve the influx of people and drugs, states have to step up,” Cox said in his social media post. “Right now, Texas needs our help and we’re grateful to our National Guard members, state troopers and their families for their willingness to serve and keep us safe.”
Five Utah National Guard soldiers from the engineer battalion will be sent on Feb. 26 to help upkeep military equipment at the border. The Utah Highway Patrol is sending one sergeant and four troopers from the Criminal Interdiction team, which specializes in drug investigations. Law enforcement officers will be deployed for 30 days, while the soldiers will be at the border for two weeks.
Texas’ request came as an Emergency Management Assistance Compact with an estimated cost of $150,000. The cost of sending troops and the Utah National Guard will be paid by the Governor’s Office Emergency Fund.
Cox was resisted by other Utah public officials who questioned the importance of supporting Texas. Chairwoman of the Utah Democratic Party Diane Lewis responded to Cox’s announcement, stating that the governor is “more interested in playing political games than getting important things done for the state of Utah.”
It is confusing to Democratic officials in Utah because, just last week, it appeared a bipartisan border and foreign aid package was ready to bolster an immigration reform that hasn’t gained any ground for over a year. The package came after President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats agreed to link military aid to Ukraine with enhanced border security.
Author: Chevy Blackburn
Photo courtesy of Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Editor: Anna Mower
news@suunews.net
