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What is Border Strike Force? 26 GOP governors join hands to 'secure Southern border'

'This is a waste of funds' slams net over a new initiative to combat migrant surge following Biden Administration's planned lifting of Title 42

26 Governors led by Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona launched a new 'Border Strike Force' on April 19, 2022. The initiative is meant to secure the southern border and combat the influx of migrants, following the planned lifting of Title 42 by the Biden Administration. Abbott said the initiative is "aimed at filling the void created by federal inaction," but as with all hot-button topics, became greatly debated online.

The GOP has identified the southern border as a key talking point for the 2022 midterms, following the chaos from the White House. Vice President Kamala Harris, who was made "border czar" in early 2021 is yet to visit the border. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has swiftly rolled back several Trump-era policies, causing a massive surge in immigrants. The surge is only expected to get worse once Title 42 is rolled back in May. 

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Since Biden took office, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has encountered more than 2.4 million migrants. In March 2022 alone, 221,303 migrants were caught illegally crossing the border, the highest number ever in a month of the Biden Presidency. That number is also already higher than at any point during the Trump administration, a major red flag for Democrats. 

What is the Border Strike Force?

The program is based on Arizona's Border Strike Force, which was implemented by Ducey in 2015. It involves enhanced intelligence sharing to combat drug and human trafficking. Abbott also noted that "strengthening cybersecurity and improving efforts to protect children and families" would also be key aims of the program. "What we’re doing in Arizona works. But this is not just an Arizona issue, it’s a national issue," noted Ducey about the program.

The massive effort will see 26 red states work together along the border, including states that aren't anywhere near the southern border such as North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, and Iowa. No Democrat-controlled states are part of the effort. Shared resources will also allow the states to better respond to criminal organizations, and cut down the supply of drugs flowing into the US. In their announcement, the Governors also took several shots at Biden directly. "The Biden administration’s failed border policies have created a homeland security and humanitarian crisis — and every state in the country is paying the price," they said.

They also made no effort to hide that the initiative was directly tied to the rollback of Title 42, a pandemic-era law that allowed the CBP to turn away migrants at the border without processing their claims. Congress is right now debating ways to extend Title 42, but should that fail, a massive surge of immigrants claiming asylum is expected. 

'Nothing but Republican performative political theater'

Online though, not everyone was impressed with the massive effort. "What gives this “Governor’s Association” the authorization to bypass the federal government’s Department of Homeland Security with this “Border Strike Force?” This is a waste of funds, resources and a far overreach! This needs to be stopped NOW!!" one user claimed. Another commented, "26 Republican governors announce Border Strike Force [because it's an election year, and why not pummel border communities with scare tactics for political and opportunistic gain]."

"Arkansas has 900 problems, immigrants coming to the southern border seeking asylum is not one of them. This "Strike Force" is nothing but Republican performative political theater. How many Arkansas tax dollars do you intend to waste with this nonsense?" one person asked Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. Another told Governor Kay Ivey, "There is a crisis in Ukraine not at our Southern Border. Go join up with that Strike Force." A third joked, "Border Strike Force! Still laughing. Why do all Repuglikkkants sound like they are playing cops and robbers on the playground?"