GILLETTE, Wyo. — While some states are sending personnel to the U.S.–Mexico border as a response to a Texas request, Wyoming is not, Gov. Mark Gordon’s spokesman said today.
“Texas’ request for National Guard participation does not align with our current capabilities, and the vacancies Wyoming Highway Patrol is experiencing mean that we don’t currently have the manpower to send patrollers,” Gordon’s communications director, Michael Pearlman, said May 31.
He said Gordon supported a bill that could have provided funding to support this effort, but Wyoming legislators didn’t pass it.
The bill would have appropriated $3 million for the legislative stabilization reserve to allow the governor to enter into a contract with Texas to construct a permanent border wall between Texas and Mexico, as well as $2 million for a wall between Arizona and Mexico. The bill would have also allowed Texas, Arizona and Florida to each use $250,000 to transport people who are not U.S. citizens to sanctuary cities in other states.
“The Governor believes in supporting Texas in this effort, and Wyoming continues to explore options to find funding and resources in order to offer assistance,” Pearlman said.
On May 16, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged other states’ governors to help the state’s border security efforts, following the end of Title 42. He requested support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. This agreement allows states to share resources in emergencies.
