Peach Tree Times

Atlanta, GA – Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp has directed the deployment of additional troops from the Georgia National Guard to the U.S. southern border. This decision comes as a response to the ongoing crisis at the border and the federal government's failure to address it effectively. The Georgia National Guard has had a continuous presence on the southern border since 2019, making it the state with the longest-standing presence.

Governor Kemp recently visited the border for the fifth time since taking office, where he was briefed on the situation and the efforts being made by multiple states to help secure the border. In a statement, Governor Kemp highlighted the need for action, saying, "Because of Joe Biden's failure to address the crisis at the southern border, every state is now a border state."

The deployment of Georgia guardsmen will provide additional support to the Texas Guard under Operation Lone Star, which aims to prevent the free flow of illegal migrants and threats to public safety from entering the country. Governor Kemp expressed his support for Texas, stating, "Texas has Georgia's support and we stand ready to provide additional resources in the effort to keep Americans safe."

The Georgia guardsmen, who possess engineering, mechanical, and general purpose skills, are expected to deploy in the Spring of this year. They will assist in the construction of a forward command post on the Texas border with Mexico. The mission will be tailored to Texas' official request for assistance and the evolving conditions on the border, with close collaboration between the Georgia Guard and Texas Guard leadership.

Lt. Governor Burt Jones also emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the impact of illegal immigration on Georgia's foster care system and the influx of drugs across the border. He expressed his support for Governor Kemp's efforts to combat the issue and ensure the necessary tools are available to address it.

The Georgia State Senate and House of Representatives have passed resolutions this week reaffirming Georgia's support for the Texas mission and its Constitutional right to self-defense. Speaker of the House Jon Burns emphasized that illegal immigration is not a partisan issue, stating, "The massive increase in illegal immigration has caused a humanitarian, public safety, and economic crisis across the country -- and cannot continue."

In addition to the deployment of guardsmen, Georgia has joined the American Governors' Border Strike Task Force, led by Governor Kemp. This collaboration among multiple states aims to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations by improving communication, intelligence, analysis, and combating human smuggling and drug trafficking.

Since President Biden took office, over 8.5 million illegal immigrants have crossed into the country, including 169 people on the terror watchlist encountered at the southern border in Fiscal Year 2023 alone. Meanwhile, the Texas Guard's Operation Lone Star has made significant progress, with the seizure of over 56,000 pounds of meth, over 458 million doses of fentanyl, and over $51 million in currency.

While states and cities across the country are experiencing the strain caused by the influx of migrants, the federal government has offered to reimburse cities with close to $800 million instead of addressing the root cause of the issue at the border.

The deployment of additional Georgia National Guard troops to the southern border demonstrates the commitment of Georgia and its leaders to secure the border and protect the safety and wellbeing of American citizens.