Red States Ramp up Police, Troops Deployments to US Southern Border

Texas National Guard soldiers uncoil concertina wire near the U.S.-Mexico border fence in El Paso, Texas, on May 10, 2023. John Moore/Getty Images

Republican-led states are gradually committing more of their state’s National Guard troops and law enforcement officers to support operations to secure portions of the U.S. southern border.

The troop and police deployments come as border officials are still evaluating how the repeal of Title 42 impacts cross-border traffic flow into the United States. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, U.S. officials invoked Title 42 to turn away and expel migrants under public health justifications.