Washington GOP Congressional Delegation Calls for Border Assistance from Gov. Inslee
“State and federal officials have a duty to respond.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Washington State Congressional Republicans, Reps. Dan Newhouse, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Jaime Herrera Beutler sent a letter to Governor Inslee requesting he respond to Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's joint request for Washington state to assist in their response to the crisis at America's southern border by sending Washington National Guard troops to the border.
"An open southern border threatens our national security and the safety of all Americans. Hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals are entering our country each month with no documentation and unknown motives," wrote the lawmakers. "At the current rate, illegal immigration from outside of Mexico and the northern triangle will be almost three times higher in 2021 than it was in 2019."
They continued, "The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) allows states to share resources during disasters. According to Governor Ducey and Governor Abbott's letter, as required by Article III(B) of EMAC, Texas and Arizona officials "will be contacting their counterparts in your State to prepare an appropriately detailed request for law-enforcement assistance." While we should not be risking the safety of our own communities by taking resources away from them, we are fortunate to have a strong National Guard who are ready and able to assist."
The lawmakers concluded, "American families in all 50 states are harmed by the influx of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border. On behalf of our constituents in Washington, we're requesting that you approve Texas and Arizona's requests for assistance and follow the lead of your fellow governors by deploying National Guard troops to help secure the southern border. State and federal officials have a duty to respond."
Read the full letter here and below.
Dear Governor Inslee,
We're writing to you today regarding Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's joint request for Washington state to assist in their response to the crisis at America's southern border.
The meteoric rise in illegal immigration created by President Biden's open border agenda required Governor Abbot to issue a disaster declaration in Texas and Governor Ducey to declare an emergency in Arizona.
An open southern border threatens our national security and the safety of all Americans. Hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals are entering our country each month with no documentation and unknown motives. At the current rate, illegal immigration from outside of Mexico and the northern triangle will be almost three times higher in 2021 than it was in 2019. Over the past six months, a staggering number of Unaccompanied Alien Children have made the dangerous trip across our border, risking sexual assault, violence, and even death. Even more alarming, in April of this year, CBP arrested two Yemeni men on a terror watch list.
The opiate epidemic is a leading public health scourge that impacts all states, and the ongoing surge of illegal immigrants is diverting federal resources away from combating the illegal drug trade and encouraging drug smuggling. By April 6, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection had already seized more fentanyl than in all of 2020.
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) allows states to share resources during disasters. According to Governor Ducey and Governor Abbott's letter, as required by Article III(B) of EMAC, Texas and Arizona officials "will be contacting their counterparts in your State to prepare an appropriately detailed request for law-enforcement assistance." While we should not be risking the safety of our own communities by taking resources away from them, we are fortunate to have a strong National Guard who are ready and able to assist.
American families in all 50 states are harmed by the influx of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border. On behalf of our constituents in Washington, we're requesting that you approve Texas and Arizona's requests for assistance and follow the lead of your fellow governors by deploying National Guard troops to help secure the southern border. State and federal officials have a duty to respond.
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