Gov. Jim Justice announced on Twitter Monday that West Virginia is doing its part to help with the country’s southern border (or “Biden’s border crisis,” as he called it) by sending National Guard troops to support. This is a pure political stunt that doubles down on a previous pure political stunt.
First, Justice made the announcement from his US Senate campaign account, not his governor’s account. That in itself shows that this is blatantly political and not a matter of real politics. Also, no announcement of new Guard deployments to the border has been made, so Justice must refer to his authorization to send 50 troops to Texas on May 31. If this is the case, it is intentionally misleading.
There are many reasons why sending West Virginia National Guard troops approximately 1,500 miles from West Virginia is a bad idea. In theory, the troops are there to help bolster forces to stem the tide of illegal immigration into the United States. In addition to the basic issue of entering the country illegally, the fentanyl trade, human trafficking, and (if you take the false claims of some alarmist politicians) face the situation.
Illegal border crossings are certainly dangerous, especially when those leading a group have ulterior motives. But the idea that America has “open borders” that allow people to come and go while committing crimes is absurd.
According to the conservative-leaning Cato Institute, the United States has some of the strictest border policies in the world, and entering legally is very difficult, which contributes to illegal immigration. Still, illegal immigration is just as tough and far more dangerous. The institute also found that immigrants generally assimilate into American culture easily, pay their fair share of taxes, rely less on welfare than Americans and, whether they enter legally or illegally, are less likely to be incarcerated or commit a crime than native-born U.S. citizens.
As for drug trafficking, according to a Cato Institute study released last year, most of the fentanyl distributed in the United States comes from legal entry points. More than 90% of the fentanyl seized by border authorities is discovered at legal crossings or vehicle checkpoints. In fact, US citizens are generally the best drug traffickers because they are less likely to be searched rigorously, according to the institute. About 99% of fentanyl users are US citizens, and immigrants are 80% less likely to use the drug.
Illegal immigration at the southern border has also dropped by 70 percent since Title 42 restrictions enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted in May, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
So if it’s the same as 50 Guards or Justice talking about sending more, what exactly are they supposed to do about illegal immigration?
Of course, the main strike against sending Guard members anywhere is that Justice mobilized them last year under a state of emergency to offset critical staffing shortages at West Virginia correctional facilities. The Guard continues to work in overcrowded jails and prisons, some of which are understaffed by up to 76%. Why send Guard members elsewhere when a crisis at home is far from over?
The answer, of course, is political expediency. Judging by the many harshly critical responses Justice’s announcement received, most West Virginians aren’t buying it.
— Charleston Gazette-Mail, July 19
