Gov. Lee commits to deploying more troops during trip to southern border

EAGLE PASS, Texas (WVLT) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas on Sunday and joined 14 other Republican governors, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, for a briefing on the Operation Lone Star mission to secure the southern border.

While discussing border security, Lee committed to deploying two additional waves of Tennessee National Guard troops to the southern border that will join the more than 125 troops that are currently deployed there.

“Tennessee will continue. We are the Volunteer State. We have had hundreds of troops on the border. We are prepared even today to send additional troops. We are working with the Texas Department of Military to do just that,” Lee said.

Lee said the Tennessee Department of Military is coordinating with Texas to determine a timeline and areas of greatest need for troops.

The first wave of Tennessee National Guard members who volunteer are expected to deploy to the border within 60 days, Lee said.

Along with Gov. Lee and Gov. Abbott, other Governors who participated in the border crisis briefing include: Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox.