Governor Brian Kemp directed on Tuesday the Georgia National Guard to provide support to the Texas Guard at the U.S. Southern Border.
A press release from the office of Gov. Kemp said the Georgia Guard reinforcements will assist the Texas Guard in Operation Lone Star.
Since taking Office Kemp has traveled to the Southern border five times. In his most recent trip, Kemp was briefed by officials on the crisis and the ongoing efforts by multiple states to step in.
Georgia has had the longest continuous presence of guardsmen on the southern border of any state, beginning in 2019 when Kemp took office.
"Because of Joe Biden's failure to address the crisis at the southern border, every state is now a border state," Kemp said. "That's why Georgia is once again stepping up to help do what the White House and Democrats in Congress refuse to do - secure our southern border. As I recently told Governor Greg Abbott, Texas has Georgia's support and we stand ready to provide additional resources in the effort to keep Americans safe."
The Georgia guardsmen are expected to be deployed in the spring and will be comprised of those with engineering, mechanical and general-purpose skills.
While deployed guardsmen will assist in the construction of a forward command post on the Texas border with Mexico.
Georgia Guard leadership will work with Texas Guard leadership in the coming weeks to tailor the mission to Texas' official request for assistance and the evolving conditions on the border.
"The Biden administration's complete and total failure to secure our border has left our nation and our home state unsafe, while drugs continue to pour in across the border," Lt. Governor Burt Jones said. "More families are ripped apart due to substance abuse, and an influx of unaccompanied children is impacting Georgia's foster care system. We will continue to work with Commissioner Broce to ensure this system has all the necessary tools to address this critical issue. I am proud of the steps we are taking here in Georgia and I fully support Governor Kemp's and our state agencies' efforts to combat an issue created and exacerbated by failed leadership in D.C."
The Georgia State Senate and House of Representatives voted on and passed resolutions this week to reaffirm Georgia's support for Texas and its right to defend its border.
"Illegal immigration is not a red state or a blue state issue -- it is an every state issue, and that includes right here in Georgia," Speaker of the House Jon Burns said. "The massive increase in illegal immigration has caused a humanitarian, public safety, and economic crisis across the country -- and cannot continue. House Resolution 1019 is our pledge to Governor Kemp and the people of Georgia that we stand united against lawlessness at our border and in support of legal immigration, affirming our commitment to safeguarding our state's interests and upholding the rule of law."
Under Kemp’s leadership, Georgia joined the American Governors' Border Strike Task Force.
