Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, to discuss the ongoing border situation. He described it as the most severe the United States has faced in decades. Alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott and 12 other governors, they discussed state-level security improvements in response to perceived federal government shortcomings. Governor Lee pledged to send two additional groups of Tennessee National Guard troops to support Texas’ border security.
Governor Lee voiced his concerns about the consequences of what he referred to as the ‘open border policy.’ He linked this to increased crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. He stressed the need for immediate action and the role of state governors in securing the southern border. He also announced the deployment of two groups of Tennessee soldiers to assist Texas.
The Tennessee Department of Military is working with Texas to plan the deployment. They expect the first group of Tennessee National Guard volunteers to deploy to the border within sixty days. This continues Tennessee’s tradition of supporting Texas in border security.