INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb spoke about his decision to send the Indiana National Guard to the country’s southern border.
Earlier this month, Holcomb announced the mission after a visit to Texas with 13 other governors and after a request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Indiana joins several other states that are sending or have already sent National Guard troops to Texas.
Holcomb said the plan is to deploy 50 guardsmen for 10 months in mid-March.
“Something has to be done. Governors are stepping up,” Holcomb told 13News at an event on Tuesday.
Holcomb claims the border issues don’t just affect Texas, but all states — including Indiana.
"What is coming across the border illegally is ending up in every state. So, every state has become a border state and because of the federal failure, states have got to pick up the slack if we want to understand the drug routes, the sex trafficking, all those things that are having huge adverse impacts on our state,” Holcomb said.
Also, this is not the first time Indiana sent the National Guard to the border. According to Holcomb, the state sent about 300 troops over the last three years.
However, those missions were paid for by the federal government. In this case, Indiana will foot the bill.
According to the Indiana National Guard, the estimated cost for the mission is $7.1 million. The costs include pay and allowances, accommodations, transportation, supplies and maintenance.
“This is just the first time that the federal government for some reason has decided not to reimburse for those soldiers, for those men and women to be on the border. So, the state of Indiana is having to pick up the tab because we are going to pay for it now or we are going to pay even more later,” Holcomb said.
Right now, Holcomb said there are a lot of volunteers who have signed up. The 50 guardsmen selected will train for one week at Camp Atterbury before leaving.
Indiana Democrats previously released the following statement:
"In the very same week that Republicans killed a bipartisan border security bill in Congress, this disappointing move from the governor. Our state and country needs comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform now — through Congressional action — to make us truly secure, not political stunts in an election year."