Gov. Edwards keeps La.’s National Guard at Texas border

By Joby Richard
Contributing Writer

(LSU Manship School News Service) — Even after a public expression of distress by a state legislator, Gov. John Bel Edwards decided last Wednesday to leave a Louisiana National Guard support team at the Texas border until mid-July.

“I, like many people, am deeply disturbed by the unnecessary and abhorrent policy of separating children from their families,” Edwards said.

But Edwards added that the Louisiana team, which responded in May to a routine request to assist Texas with border security, would finish its job. Louisiana sent assets along with eight other states.

REP. GARY CARTER

Edwards issued his statement after disturbing images emerged out of southern Texas. President Trump said last Wednesday that he would reverse part of his zero-tolerance policy for people illegally crossing the border and having their families separated.

During a House committee meeting last Wednesday, Rep. Gary Carter, D-New Orleans, asked Louisiana National Guard Adjutant Gen. Glenn Curtis if he had any personnel at the southern U.S. border.

Gen. Curtis said Louisiana has one helicopter and three soldiers at the border to assist with security. Curtis added that these assets are not in any way involved in enforcing the policy of separating children from their parents.

Carter was still disturbed by Louisiana providing any form of ancillary support for this heinous policy and urged the Guard to recall our assets immediately. But the governor delayed removal of these assets until the end of their mission in July.

In closing, Edwards said, “I urge Congress and the President to act quickly to end this crisis.”

This article originally published in the June 25, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.