EAGLE PASS, Texas – Texas Gov. Abbott was joined at the border in Eagle Pass on Monday by four Republican governors who have sent their own armed law enforcement and National Guard members to the border.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem held a news conference with Abbott to discuss their joint efforts on Operation Lone Star.
“These Governors here with me today are deploying military and law enforcement officers to help Texas secure the border,” Abbott said. “We have 14 Governors who are deploying personnel to secure the border that President Biden has abandoned. e, as states, share an obligation and that’s to step up and address this unparalleled catastrophe caused by President Biden.”
Abbott in May sent letters to governors across the US requesting support for Texas’ border security mission following President Biden’s decision to end Title 42.
Noem was among the governors who responded to support Abbott.
“I thank Governor Abbott for all that he’s done to fight this fight. I’m all in helping support Operation Lone Star,” she said.
Abbott acknowledged during the news conference that a floating barrier on the U.S.-Mexico border was moved closer to American soil. The Biden administration and Mexico have protested the wrecking ball-sized buoys that Abbott authorized in the name of preventing migrants from entering the country.
The repositioning comes ahead of a hearing Tuesday that could decide whether the buoys remain. Texas began installing the bright-orange buoys on the Rio Grande in July and the state was quickly sued by the Justice Department, which argues the barrier could impact relations with Mexico and pose humanitarian and environmental risks.
You can watch the news conference in its entirety below:
Editor’s Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.