FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paige Gehlhausen, Press Secretary
Paige.Gehlhausen@iga.in.gov
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Zay: Indiana National Guardsmen deployed to southern border
STATEHOUSE (April 9, 2024) — Fifty Indiana National Guard members deployed to the southern border as part of Operation Lone Star, said State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington).
The troops will be stationed at an entry port in the El Paso region for the next 10 months to help mitigate human and drug trafficking.
"The border crisis is a direct result of the federal government's inability to protect its citizens properly," Zay said. "We can no longer stand for the Biden administration's failed open border policies that have allowed an unprecedented number of illegal immigrants and deadly drugs to enter the U.S. and threaten our national security."
In February, Zay sent a letter to Gov. Holcomb encouraging the deployment of Indiana's National Guardsmen to the southern border. Zay is in full support of the governor's action and hopes the decision will lead other states to join in efforts to secure the border.
"The brave men and women in our National Guard made a commitment to serve when duty calls, which is evident as 300 troops initially volunteered," Zay said. "I am grateful for our guardsmen's bravery, and I am proud to see our state stand up against the Biden administration's careless open-border policies that have put our country at extreme risk."
The Indiana National Guard has previously helped Texas secure the southern border, with nearly 300 Indiana Guardsmen and women serving from October 2020 – 2023.
To learn more about the deployment, click here.
Gov. Eric Holcomb (front right) helps sendoff fifty Indiana National Guardsmen and women serving in Operation Lone Star to help secure the southern border in Texas at Camp Atterbury Thursday, March 28.
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State Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington) represents Senate District 17,
which includes Grant, Huntington and Wabash counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
