SEPTEMBER 26, 2023:
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is at the United States’ southern border again (Sept. 26, 2023), this time to get an update from 50 of the state’s National Guard soldiers stationed there as part of Texas’ efforts to stop illegal immigrants from entering the country (Operation Lone Star).
Noem was joined at the border by South Dakota Adjutant General Mark Morrell and South Dakota Secretary of Public Safety Bob Perry, who officially started his job yesterday.
Due to a recent surge in border crossings, September 2023 is expected to surpass previous monthly highs. US Customs and Border Patrol data shows encounters have remained at record high levels for the past three years.
Noem says the Mexican drug cartels are taking advantage of the open border and the situation continues to deteriorate. She says South Dakota National Guard troops are serving alongside soldiers from Texas and other states to bring some stability to the “warzone.”
Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott invoked Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution, “enabling the State of Texas to protect its own territory against invasion by the Mexican drug cartels.”
JUNE 5, 2023:
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is sending at least 50 South Dakota National Guard troops to the USA-Mexico border later this summer. About a dozen other Republican governors are also answering the request from Texas Governor Greg Abbott to help his state respond to the crisis at the southern border.
Noem says, “Our National Guard soldiers are the best prepared to tackle this challenge. They have proven that they can serve with excellence in a situation such as this, and I am confident that they will do so again.”
Noem’s Office says monthly border encounters have increased by 536% since President Biden took office. Average monthly encounters are up to 204,566 to-date in fiscal year 2023. Prior to the Biden Administration, recorded border encounters had only ever been higher than 200,000 in one month in history, which was 23 years ago.
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