Gov. Pillen Announces Second Nebraska Troop Deployment to Secure Southern Border
LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced he has ordered a second deployment of members of the Nebraska National Guard and Nebraska State Patrol to Texas to help respond to the ongoing crisis along the U.S. border with Mexico.
“Every state is a border state, and what happens along our nation’s southern border affects us right here in Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “We’re seeing record amounts of fentanyl and heroin flood into our communities as Mexican cartels take advantage of the disastrous border policies of the federal government. I am extremely grateful to the soldiers, airmen, and state troopers who volunteered for this important mission. Their skills will help stem the tide of illegal immigration and keep deadly drugs off our streets.”
The mission is being organized in response to a request for emergency assistance from the state of Texas. The request was made through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), which is an agreement among states to send personnel and resources to assist with disasters in other states.
Thirty-five personnel from the Nebraska National Guard (28 Army Guard soldiers and seven Air Guard airmen) have volunteered for the mission. They will conduct operations in the vicinity of Eagle Pass, Texas. The soldiers and airmen are scheduled to deploy in early April for a duration of 90 days. While deployed, they will be on state active-duty status in support of the Texas National Guard as part of Operation Lone Star.
“The Nebraska National Guard is always ready to respond when our fellow Americans are dealing with an emergency, whether it is here in our own backyard, in another state, or overseas,” said Major General Craig W. Strong, the Adjutant General of the Nebraska National Guard. “I am proud of our soldiers and airmen honorably serving once again in support of Operation Lone Star.”
Ten troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) will deploy to the El Paso area for two weeks in mid-April. All are volunteers. As in past NSP border deployments, the troopers will work alongside the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“On multiple occasions, our troopers have answered the call to support Texas DPS troopers in their mission to keep American communities safe,” said Colonel John Bolduc, NSP superintendent. “This deployment is a continuation of that support and an affirmation that when our law enforcement partners call for help, they can count on the Nebraska State Patrol.”
In December 2023, illegal border crossings into the U.S. from Mexico exceeded 300,000. That was an all-time high for a single month. The lax federal border policies responsible for the rise in illegal immigration have also resulted in increased drug trafficking. The Omaha Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reported an 83% increase in the number of fentanyl pills seized in 2023 compared to 2022. The DEA estimates that 2023 was the deadliest year ever for drug poisonings in the United States, with an estimated 112,000 American lives lost. Per the DEA, “70 percent of these drug poisonings are from fentanyl.” Additionally, the Omaha Police Department recently alerted local law enforcement to an uptick of drug distribution activity in Omaha -- specifically due to the increased flow of meth supplied by Mexican cartels.
