Gov. Cox to send National Guard and UHP troopers to Texas border

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Spencer Cox announced Friday he’d send National Guard and law enforcement members to assist Texas on the southern border. Five Utah National Guard members and five members of the Utah Highway Patrol will report to the border on Feb. 26. 

A release from the Utah Governor’s Office said the decision came after Utah’s Department of Public Safety and Utah National Guard received Emergency Management Assistance Compact requests from their Texas counterparts. 

Gov. Cox also recently took a trip to the border along with 14 other Republican governors. Cox said things have worsened significantly on the border. 

Related: ‘We should all be concerned’: Gov. Cox details trip to US-Mexico border

“Open borders threaten our national security and if the president and Congress won’t solve the influx of people and drugs, states have to step up,” said Cox in the release.

The UTNG will send soldiers from the engineer battalion to help maintain military equipment. 

Along with four UHP troopers from the Criminal Interdiction Team, specializing in drug investigations, one UHP sergeant will accompany them. 

“Right now, Texas needs our help and we’re grateful to our National Guard members, state Troopers and their families for their willingness to serve and keep us safe,” said Cox. 

According to the release, the UHP estimates a month-long deployment that will cost nearly $100,000.

The two-week UTNG deployment will run around $50,000 and all funding comes from the Governor’s Office Emergency Fund. 

Related:

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• Utah local reunited with family after six months stuck in Mexico