Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday the state utilized approximately $1.93 million from Iowa’s American Rescue Plan federal funding to pay for two deployments of Iowa law enforcement to the U.S. Southern border.“The President’s inaction at the border has resulted in catastrophic consequences. In failing to respond to this crisis, he has failed the American people,” Reynolds said. “As Governor, I have a responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of Iowans and protecting them at home starts with protecting the border.” One hundred nine Iowa National Guard soldiers and 31 Department of Public Safety (DPS) law enforcement officers deployed as part of Texas’ Operation Lone Star. The Iowa National Guard deployed from Aug. 2 through Sept. 1, 2023, and the DPS deployed from Sept. 1 through Oct. 2, 2023.According to Major General Stephen Osborn, the adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, Iowa soldiers helped apprehend 1,700 illegal migrants and surrender another 1,241 migrants to Customs and Border Patrol.”Our soldiers volunteered because they believe they’re contributing to the safety and security, not just of Texas or those border communities, but the United States, and that’s what they were sworn to protect and defend,” Osborn said.Commissioner of Iowa Department of Public Safety Stephan Bayens shared stories of state troopers helping to stop human smuggling and drug trafficking operations.”Thirty-one troopers and agents came to the aid of people in Texas to show care and compassion to scores of undocumented migrants, brought accountability to those committing crimes and support their brothers and sisters in Texas law enforcement during time of extreme need,” Bayens said. While in Texas, DPS officers were directly involved in 40 human smuggling cases, 11 drug trafficking cases, 14 narcotics arrests, six weapons arrests, 42 vehicle pursuits, 35 vehicle bailouts, and 11 stolen vehicle recoveries.“The challenges our nation is facing at the border is touching every corner of this state in ways that few understand,” Bayens said. Between March and May, Iowa law enforcement seized 334 pounds of meth, 72 pounds of cocaine, 80 pounds of marijuana and 15,350 fentanyl pills. Bayens said that’s just a small “snapshot” of how the flow of drugs at the southern border is directly impacting Iowans.”When the governor says every state is a border state, she’s not being glib. She’s not being political,” Bayens said. “It’s what our folks see day in and day out, and it really highlighted the need for us to be down in Texas.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday the state utilized approximately $1.93 million from Iowa’s American Rescue Plan federal funding to pay for two deployments of Iowa law enforcement to the U.S. Southern border.
“The President’s inaction at the border has resulted in catastrophic consequences. In failing to respond to this crisis, he has failed the American people,” Reynolds said. “As Governor, I have a responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of Iowans and protecting them at home starts with protecting the border.”
One hundred nine Iowa National Guard soldiers and 31 Department of Public Safety (DPS) law enforcement officers deployed as part of Texas’ Operation Lone Star. The Iowa National Guard deployed from Aug. 2 through Sept. 1, 2023, and the DPS deployed from Sept. 1 through Oct. 2, 2023.
According to Major General Stephen Osborn, the adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, Iowa soldiers helped apprehend 1,700 illegal migrants and surrender another 1,241 migrants to Customs and Border Patrol.
“Our soldiers volunteered because they believe they’re contributing to the safety and security, not just of Texas or those border communities, but the United States, and that’s what they were sworn to protect and defend,” Osborn said.
Commissioner of Iowa Department of Public Safety Stephan Bayens shared stories of state troopers helping to stop human smuggling and drug trafficking operations.
“Thirty-one troopers and agents came to the aid of people in Texas to show care and compassion to scores of undocumented migrants, brought accountability to those committing crimes and support their brothers and sisters in Texas law enforcement during time of extreme need,” Bayens said.
While in Texas, DPS officers were directly involved in 40 human smuggling cases, 11 drug trafficking cases, 14 narcotics arrests, six weapons arrests, 42 vehicle pursuits, 35 vehicle bailouts, and 11 stolen vehicle recoveries.
“The challenges our nation is facing at the border is touching every corner of this state in ways that few understand,” Bayens said.
Between March and May, Iowa law enforcement seized 334 pounds of meth, 72 pounds of cocaine, 80 pounds of marijuana and 15,350 fentanyl pills. Bayens said that’s just a small “snapshot” of how the flow of drugs at the southern border is directly impacting Iowans.
“When the governor says every state is a border state, she’s not being glib. She’s not being political,” Bayens said. “It’s what our folks see day in and day out, and it really highlighted the need for us to be down in Texas.”
