On September 7, 2023, Governor Jim Justice welcomed back members of the West Virginia National Guard who had volunteered for Operation Lone Star in Texas. The state of West Virginia spent over $900,000 in 2023 to send these volunteers to the southern border as part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s controversial initiative. Documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, shared by the nonprofit watchdog group American Oversight, reveal that the deployment of 53 National Guard members to Eagle Pass, Texas, for a month-long mission cost approximately $907,000.
Details about the deployment have been limited, with the Governor’s Office and representatives from the West Virginia National Guard repeatedly denying or ignoring information requests from West Virginia Watch since August. In June 2023, representatives from the National Guard estimated the cost of the initiative at $600,000, but the actual expenses totaled $907,178, according to documents obtained in September 2023. However, specific details about the expenses were redacted.
C.J. Harvey, communications director for Governor Justice, referred inquiries about the cost and justification for the deployment to a news release from August 2023, when the troops were welcomed home. The release stated that the deployed members worked to detect, deter, and interdict transnational criminal activity, including human smuggling and drug trafficking between official points of entry. During the deployment, the West Virginia National Guard encountered over 10,000 migrants attempting to enter the United States. However, the Department of Homeland Security specifies that state personnel, including National Guard troops, are not authorized to process people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, as this is under federal jurisdiction.
One member of the West Virginia National Guard shared with MetroNews in August that his unit patrolled the border, but provided no details on their specific duties. Reports from other states involved in similar missions described troops often being assigned to menial tasks such as shoveling horse manure, surveying cameras, and filing paperwork.
West Virginia was one of at least 14 Republican-led states that responded to Abbott’s request to send troops to the border for Operation Lone Star. While West Virginia has not sent more troops since the August 2023 deployment, other states continue to do so, incurring millions in taxpayer expenses. Critics have labeled the initiative as political theater ahead of a contentious election.
Operation Lone Star has faced significant controversy, including allegations of inhumane treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, civil rights violations, and several federal lawsuits against Abbott and the state of Texas. Eagle Pass, a focal point for many of these tensions, has seen local residents struggle with the militarization of their community despite a decline in immigration numbers.
Rubby Cordelia is a finance journalist for WVPrepBB.com, bringing expertise and clarity to her reporting on financial news. With a passion for demystifying complex economic issues, Rubby delivers insightful analysis and up-to-date information on the latest market trends, financial policies, and economic developments. Her work on WVPrepBB.com is essential reading for anyone looking to stay informed about the ever-changing world of finance.
