Governor Lee visits Tennessee National Guard ahead of their deployment to the Texas southern border – WBBJ TV

MILLINGTON, Tenn.– Saturday, Governor Lee and other lawmakers visited the first wave of National Guard soldiers in Millington ahead of their deployment.

“These men and women are here leaving their families to be apart of a coordinated effort to really secure the border,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

After Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested the help of securing its southern border with Mexico from other governors, Governor Lee made the decision to send the Tennessee National Guard. Saturday, Lee along with U.S. Representative David Kustoff, State Representative Chris Todd, and State Senator Ed Jackson, visited the National Guard Armory in Millington in Shelby County.

“Very proud to be here with them, to encourage them, and tell them how grateful we are for their service,” said Lee.

Major General Warner Ross says that the Tennessee National Guard has been assisting Texas since 2006, so they have experience. Their mission this time is a general purpose mission.

“It could be surveillance, it could be engineering type missions. So, they’ll be assigned to a task force under the Texas National Guard and once they get out there they’ll get specifics on what exactly the mission is,” said Major General Ross.

Ross says that every deployment comes with a risk but in this case, it depends on what sector they’re assigned to. Right now the deployment will come in two waves, but Ross says his troops are ready if elected leaders call for more.

“Our job is to be ready when they call us. Our motto in the Tennessee National Guard is we’re the volunteers and we’re ready now,” said Ross.

Congressman Kustoff, who represents a large portion of West Tennessee, says he believes border safety is quote, “The most important issue in people’s minds across the nation.”

“But my assessment is, the economy and inflation is what was primarily on people’s mind, and it still is, but the border has taken priority,” said Kustoff.

Governor Lee says as of now the two waves included in this deployment are all they are committed to send at this time.

We reached out to State Senator Ed Jackson and State Representative Chris Todd , however they were not immediately available for comment.