Jamiesfeast – In May 2018, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey made an announcement that the state would provide assistance to Governor Gregg Abbott in dealing with the ongoing migrant crisis at the US-Mexico border. As part of this effort, Alabama sent a UH-72A Lakota helicopter, along with a flight crew and aircraft maintainers.
The press release from 2018 stated:
The Alabama National Guard is always ready to assist our friends and partners on the border and continue the ongoing mission for homeland security. The mission will operate under the direction of the Texas National Guard and provide an additional tool for observation and tracking of illegal activity in the region. The soldiers will not be conducting law enforcement operations. We’re proud our soldiers are mentally and physically equipped to handle the challenges of the task.
More Support From Alabama
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In July 2021, Ivey took further action by deploying additional troops to the border in response to the escalating crisis. Alabama Congressman, Jerry Carl, commended Ivey for her decisive measures. As reported by the AL Reporter, Ivey joined other governors in May 2021 to send a letter to the Biden Administration, urging them to address the humanitarian crisis at the border. She emphasized that under the current policies, every state has effectively become a border state, and Alabama remains committed to safeguarding the Southern Border by dispatching 275 troops to Texas.
Recently, The Yellowhammer News reported that in January 2024, Governor Abbott issued an official statement regarding Texas’s utilization of “constitutional rights to self-defense” in addressing the issue of illegal immigrant crossings, as the White House has provided limited support. In response, Governor Ivey assured Governor Abbott that Alabama will stand by decisions made to secure the border.
Court Backlog and Mass Crossings
According to a recent article published by Newsweek, there are over 3 million immigration cases currently pending in the United States.
The article provided further information and stated:
The backlog of cases clogging up the U.S. court system has soared to more than 3 million across the country in the past year, with some 458,630 in Texas alone. The numbers have seen a significant jump since 2012, when just 40,051 immigration cases were pending in the state. In December 2022, one of the largest mass crossings was caught on camera when a caravan of more than 1,000 migrants filed into the U.S. at El Paso, Texas. That group was mostly made up of people from Nicaragua, Peru or Ecuador, but increasing numbers of Chinese migrants are also arriving at the southern border.
Throughout the crisis, journalists have interviewed numerous migrants to gain insights into their perspective on the situation. In one particular interview, a journalist asked an unidentified man who was crossing the border illegally to identify himself. The migrant responded with a cryptic statement, saying, “Soon you’re going to know who I am,” which has left many pondering the significance behind his words.
Truckers Headed to the Border
As of Jan. 29, 2024, over 40,000 truckers are currently en route to the Southern Border. Their purpose is to demonstrate support for border security and voice their concerns about the increasing number of migrants crossing into the country illegally. KXAN reported that the group called “Take Our Border Back” has extended an invitation to various individuals and organizations including active and retired law enforcement officers, military personnel, veterans, Mama Bears, elected officials, business owners, ranchers, truckers, bikers, media, and law-abiding, freedom-loving Americans. The group aims to peacefully protest the situation at the border.
The group has set a target to arrive in Texas by February 1, 2024.
Stay tuned for further updates and news regarding this evolving subject.