Gov. Abbott hosted nine of his fellow Governors for a border security briefing to provide an update on the ongoing crisis and share insights into Texas’ unprecedented response to President Biden’s open border policies

Waco, TX – State officials said that Adjutant General of the Texas Military Department Major General Thomas Suelzer, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steve McCraw, and Texas Border Czar Mike Banks participated in the border security briefing and provided on-the-ground intelligence about the border crisis.

According to the statement, Gov. Abbott was joined at the briefing by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

During the briefing, Governor Abbott provided an overview of Texas’ comprehensive Operation Lone Star border security mission and explained effective tools and strategies the State of Texas has utilized to deter and repel illegal immigration along the southern border.

The Governor highlighted how President Biden’s refusal to secure the border is a national security threat, noting that 16 individuals on the terrorist watchlist were arrested just last month at the border. 

Governor Abbott also recognized the states of Idaho and Florida for sending assistance to Texas and urged his fellow governors to help provide more personnel to support Operation Lone Star following President Biden’s decision to end Title 42 earlier this month.