Oklahoma National Guard troops help secure US-Mexico border
EL PASO, Tex. (KTUL) — About 50 Oklahoma National Guard troops are helping secure the Southern border.
The troops are part of the reinforcements Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt committed to send to Texas in June in wake of what he called, "President Joe Biden's failure to secure and protect our nation." However, critics say it's a waste of taxpayer dollars.
NewsChannel 8's Brenna Rose traveled to El Paso, Tex., to the border between the United States and Mexico on Thursday.
Along a 1-mile stretch in El Paso, Oklahomans are keeping close watch. There were numerous groups of people, including young children, on the Mexican side of the border, who were waving and shouting to the U.S. side. They were eventually chased off by Mexico officials.
"We'll walk up and down," said Oklahoma National Guard Specialist Trace Greer from Ardmore, Okla. " We'll patrol a little bit and we just call up if anything suspicious looks like it’s going on. If anybody looks like they’re about to cross, we’ll call that up, get some help down here."
One of the things Oklahoma National Guard members are doing is looking out for migrants attempting to cross over the border. They're also watching out for anyone trying to bring in narcotics.
The group has been there for the last 10 days and are part of Operation Lone Star, which was first started in 2021.
"They were looking for volunteers, I was like, I really feel like actually doing something for my community, helping out," Greer said.
Helping out by watching for migrants attempting to cross illegally.
"When it’s really hot out like this, they usually stay back in the shade under bridges and stuff and wont really try to cross," Greer said. "Every now and again, you’ll have people come up and try to get through."
NewsChannel 8's Brenna Rose didn't see anyone attempt to cross while she was at the border, but did see the area littered with shoes, including one from a small child.
"I have seen families try to cross with young babies," said Oklahoma National Guard Sergeant Skyler Ledesma. "As a human being, it is a little tougher to see that because nobody would stand out in over 100-degree weather all day if they weren’t in need of something."
Oklahoma is one of several Republican states answering Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's call to help secure the Southern border.
"The Texas National Guard appreciates having Oklahoma and all the other states that are coming in to support down here on the border," said Texas National Guard Major Mike Jerry.
Operation Lone Star has come under fire from opposition, as well as immigration advocates. They're an extra set of eyes, but critics question their effectiveness, saying it is a waste of taxpayer dollars, particularly because they don't have the authority to apprehend anyone.
"I think every Texan should be up in arms that we're doing this," said David Stout with the Texas Border Coalition. "And every Oklahoman should be up in arms because they're wasting y'all's taxpayer dollars as well by playing this political game and sending these troops down here."
Stout said El Paso is one of the safest cities in the U.S., calling the border an opportunity, not a threat.
"Just like migrants, these poor troops are being used as political pawns," he said.
NewsChannel 8's Brenna Rose has been trying to find out exactly how much this initiative is costing Oklahomans, but numerous requests to Stitt's office have been ignored.
As for the boots on the ground? They're focused on the task at hand and not politics.
"As a human being, I feel for those people," Ledesma said. "It is a difficult time to tell them that they need to go and try to cross the right way, but on the other hand, I'm here to do a job and that’s what I have to do."