MONTGOMERY, Ala. (EETV)- Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has announced that several Alabama National Guard troops will be deployed to the southern boarder at the request of the Trump administration.
The guard members will help assist United States Customs and Boarder Patrol agents along with the Texas National Guard at the US southern boarder with Mexico.
“Alabama is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our nation. We have the greatest group of service men and women in the country,” Ivey said. “The Alabama National Guard stands ready to answer the call and we are proud to assist in the Southwest border mission.”
The state will send one Lakota helicopter along with some flight and maintenance crew members from the A Company, 1-114th Aviation Battalion, based out of Birmingham.
The guard deployment comes as boarder patrol officials are seeing an increase in illegal immigrant apprehensions and "inadmissibles," ineligible illegal aliens seeking admission at the southwest border.
According to statistics from the United States Customs and Boarder Patrol, April 2018 saw over 50,000 apprehensions and inadmissibles compared to just 15,766 in April 2017.
This move also comes as President Donald Trump has repeatedly addressed the topic of illegal immigration, calling on Democrats in Congress to support closing immigration loopholes.
“Democrats in Congress refuse to close these loopholes, including the disgraceful practice known as catch and release,” said Trump at a recent immigration roundtable event.
This is not the first time that the Alabama National Guard has helped assist at the boarder, they most recently helped in 2016 by sending some Lakota helicopters and crew members.
