Texas officially requests first 50 Guard members from Louisiana

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has officially requested Louisiana send 50 members of its state National Guard to assist with security on its border with Mexico. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has already agreed to provide the support, an expenditure of state resources that needs legislative approval. 

Louisiana’s deployment to Texas will include “50 personnel in platoon sized elements, including leadership and certain equipment,” according to a statement from Landry’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP). 

“Texas seeks help with security points, roving patrols and engineer operations along its 1,250 miles of border,” the statement said.

Abbott has clashed with the federal government over his approach to securing a portion of the border at Eagle Pass. The Texas National Guard has strung razor wire on buoys along the banks of the Rio Grande, making it difficult for migrants to cross without sustaining serious injury. 

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that federal authorities can take down the razor wire, although Abbott has kept Border Patrol authorities from accessing a park along the riverside to remove it.  

Deployment plans for Louisiana Guard members were being finalized as Abbott’s request was forwarded to Landry, GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodeaux said in a news release. 

“Texas has historically stood with Louisiana during any of our major emergencies,” Thibodeaux said. “Governor Landry has made it clear that we will stand by Texas and offer support as they attempt to secure the Southern Border.”

Earlier this month, Landry committed to sending 150 Louisiana National Guard members to Texas. Brig. Gen. Michael Greer said groups of 50 will be sent to the border on 30-day rotations.

The full deployment will cost Louisiana $3 million, an allocation that legislators are being asked to approve in a budget bill filed for the current special session on crime policy.

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