Oklahoma Joins Operation Lone Star

The all-volunteer task force is celebrated by family, friends, and dignitaries as they prepare to become part of Operation Lone Star. The effort by Republican-led states to assist Texas in securing the southern border with Mexico.

"Today marks another chapter in the proud history of the Oklahoma National Guard. As these volunteers provide much-needed support to the Texas Military Department and their ongoing efforts to protect the southwestern border of the United States," says Lt. Colonel Adam Headrick, Oklahoma National Guard.

"Basically, just supporting, basically lending a hand to the Texas Guard. Just super excited to go out there and help and just see what we can do," says Specialist Reese Hart, Oklahoma National Guard.

Hart joined the Oklahoma National Guard about two years ago, and this is his first deployment.

"It's super exciting. I can't tell you how excited I’m to be down there and just lend a hand,” says Hart.

Joining Hart on the deployment is Oklahoma National Guard Captain Jayce Crowder, who will be one of the commanders on the mission to the border.

"So, we have a section of the border that we'll be in charge of monitoring, and more or less that's all we'll be monitoring and watching for people trying to cut and break those barriers,” says Captain Crowder.

Crowder says the 50 National Guardsmen will get more details about the mission once they arrive in El Paso, Texas.

"Training-wise, it's all gonna happen when we get down there. We have a couple-day process when we get down to Texas to train soldiers up on exactly what we are gonna do and what their day-to-day is going to look like,” says Captain Crowder.

While supporters are here at the Norman Military Complex on this day, there is at least one state lawmaker who disagrees with the decision to send Oklahoma guardsmen and women to the Mexico border.

Representative Annie Menz, who is a U.S. Navy veteran, told The Oklahoman: "It's unconscionable to send our guardsmen into harm's way just to score political points."

We requested an interview with Rep. Menz for more details, but she was unavailable.

This is coming during a showdown between the Biden administration and Texas Governor Greg Abbott for placing barriers in the Rio Grande to reduce the chances of someone getting across. The federal government has filed a lawsuit against Abbott to have the barriers removed.

When I asked about the politics around the mission, Captain Crowder was having none of that and was focused on the deployment.

"No, I don't have any doubts. We're there to support Texas. That's what we're there to do,” says Captain Crowder.

"This is the right mission. We've got fentanyl deaths affecting Oklahomans. We've got stuff pouring in from our southern border,” says Governor Kevin Stitt.

Governor Stitt felt it was important to contribute to the safety of the nation.

"The amount of fentanyl that's coming into our country. I just read that there's enough fentanyl that was seized that could kill every single American. I know personally in our state, those deaths have increased by over 500%. So, it's a problem right now,” says Gov. Stitt.

U.S. Senator James Lankford has visited the southern border with Mexico several times and noted that border patrol agents do appreciate the National Guard's help.

“The border patrol tells me over and over again how incredibly grateful they are to have the backup and the help the people to be spotters, the people. To be able to say, here's where the folks are moving across to be able to target individuals from humanitarian purposes,” says Sen. Lankford.

Stitt is calling for Congress and President Biden to take action to help curb the illegal crossings.

"One policy change that needs to happen. This was in place prior to the Biden administration. It would cost the American people nothing. And it's simply the Remain in Mexico Policy. In other words, if you're seeking, you know, immigration to the U.S., then you're gonna remain in Mexico until your court hearing,” says Gov. Stitt.

Lankford says Congress needs to take action.

"Congress has gotta be able to step up and be able to clarify the definition of asylum. It's the most exploited issue. This is an issue during the Obama administration, Trump administration [and] has been a horrible problem during the Biden administration to clearly define who's eligible for asylum and who is not.,” says Sen. Lankford.

He adds that human trafficking across the border has a direct impact on Oklahoma.

"We also have individuals that are being trafficked into our state law enforcement here in my, in our state, tell us over and over again, a lot of the folks that are working in illegal marijuana farms are Chinese nationals that literally come across the border into the United States from the Texas side, work their way up to Oklahoma and they're working these illegal grow operations,” says Sen. Lankford.

Lankford contends there is a type of surge that is threatening national security.

"There's a huge surge that's happening right now along the border of single adult males that are coming from the Middle East, from China, from Russia, from West Africa that are coming in. These are folks that we don't typically have. They're non-Spanish speakers. These are individuals that literally the cartels are identifying in other parts of the world to be able to bring these individuals into money makers for the cartel. But it's a national security issue for here in the United States,” says Sen. Lankford.

However, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reports for the first full month in which Title 42 was lifted, encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border decreased by 42 percent.

Even though the mission is only 30 days, much shorter than most overseas deployments, Governor Stitt says families will still miss their loved ones.

"I know these parents are gonna miss their kids. This is a shorter deployment and they'll be here in the Continental U.S. but the mission's the same. They're protecting our interest as United States citizens,” says Gov. Stitt.

"Without the families, we wouldn't be able to do what we do. That's the unsung hero of the military, I believe. So, without them, we wouldn't be able to do it. I know most of them are extremely proud of what we do,” says Captain Crowder.