Led by Arizona's GOP governor, Doug Ducey, the group of 26 state leaders has pledged to secure the southwestern border after Joe Biden overturned nearly all of former President Donald Trump's border and immigration enforcement policies on his first day in office more than a year ago.
Last week in the border community of Douglas, Ariz., Ducey announced the creation of the American Governors Border Strike Force, whose "mission is to stop illegal drug and human smuggling at the southern border," One American News reported.
The outlet adds:
The strike force, which includes Texas, Alabama and Florida, will improve intelligence sharing and analysis of state level crimes that may be connected to border security. Additionally, the multi-state effort will monitor cyber security issues, target cartel finances that fund criminal activity in the border regions and improve efforts to combat drug trafficking on the nation’s southernmost cross country highway.
“The American Governors’ Border Strike Force will serve as a force multiplier in the fight against criminal activity directly tied to our border. My thanks to my fellow governors who saw the problem and chose to be part of the solution,” Ducey said in a statement.
“The border problem just isn’t in the four border states,” he added. “There are kids ODing on fentanyl all over our country, in schools and neighborhoods. It’s one of the leading causes of death. People that are addicted, people that are looking for a cheap high and that’s coming over our southern border.
"But it’s happening in small towns and rural communities in the interior. That’s what the Border Strike Force is for: to share information, stop the cartels and stop the human trafficking," the Arizona governor continued.
"Today I have joined 25 of my fellow Governors in forming the American Governors’ Border Strike Force. Wyoming will continue to offer support to our southern border while the Biden Administration sits idly by and fails to take action on this crisis," Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon tweeted after signing on to the initiative.
Today I have joined 25 of my fellow Governors in forming the American Governors’ Border Strike Force.
Wyoming will continue to offer support to our southern border while the Biden Administration sits idly by and fails to take action on this crisis. https://t.co/V75sFuY8WB
— Governor Mark Gordon (@GovernorGordon) April 19, 2022
Added South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem: "President Biden has failed to secure the border, so Republican Governors are launching a Border Strike Force to secure our communities. South Dakota has sent National Guard to the border. We will continue partnering with other states to protect our people."
President Biden has failed to secure the border, so Republican Governors are launching a Border Strike Force to secure our communities.
South Dakota has sent National Guard to the border. We will continue partnering with other states to protect our people. https://t.co/gNSMj4ji6m
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) April 19, 2022
"Biden’s reckless immigration policies and the lack of adequate federal resources have caused an unprecedented increase in criminal operations along the southern border and in communities across the country," said a statement from the Republican Governor's Association.
"Every state is a border state, dealing with the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into states across America," the statement continued. "Republican governors have repeatedly stepped up to fill the void with state National Guard and state law enforcement reinforcements in Texas and Arizona, and an effort last year to request a meeting with Biden to offer 10 policy solutions that could immediately relieve the crisis at the border."
According to the statement:
Signatories to the memorandum include: Governors Doug Ducey (AZ), Greg Abbott (TX), Kay Ivey (AL), Mike Dunleavy (AK), Asa Hutchinson (AR), Ron DeSantis (FL), Brian Kemp (GA), Brad Little (ID), Eric Holcomb (IN), Kim Reynolds (IA), Larry Hogan (MD), Tate Reeves (MS), Mike Parson (MO), Greg Gianforte (MT), Pete Ricketts (NE), Chris Sununu (NH), Doug Burgum (ND), Mike DeWine (OH), Kevin Stitt (OK), Henry McMaster (SC), Kristi Noem (SD), Bill Lee (TN), Spencer Cox (UT), Glenn Youngkin (VA), Jim Justice (WV), and Mark Gordon (WY).
The Biden regime has claimed that states have no right to enforce border and immigration laws, only the federal government does. But when the federal government is so obviously and purposefully refusing to do so, states have every right to step up and defend their own borders and their own citizens.
It's good to see this initiative. It will be even better to see these governors ignore Biden like he's ignoring them.
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