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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joined with 23 other Republican governors Tuesday in support of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's hardline border security policies.
A statement from the coalition of governors was released the same day that Abbott sent a letter to governors urging them to send all available law enforcement personnel and resources to the Texas-Mexico border. Idaho and Florida will both send law enforcement to the border.
Cox's office did not immediately respond to questions about whether Utah will send law enforcement or other aid to the border per Abbott's plea. However, Cox has previously expressed sympathy for border-state governors, who, he said, bear an unfair burden when it comes to illegal immigration.
"They carry an enormous burden, and they deserve more support. If we're not going to fix it, then we all have to be involved in helping them. Now, whether busing, flying migrants — obviously, I don't think we should be doing that without their understanding of where they're going," Cox said during an October news conference.
"I believe in good policy and getting attention, so this is something we should all be working together on and trying to figure out," he continued. "But some of those states that don't have migrants coming in need to bear some of that cost, some of that burden. And maybe if they did, maybe their senators would be much more interested in actually solving the problem."
The Republican governors' statement criticized the Biden administration's handling of border security after the end of Title 42 of last week. The rule allowed the U.S. to expel migrants without processing their asylum claims on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The statement also applauded Abbott, whose border security policies have included busing over 17,500 migrants to Democratic-led cities and more recently deploying 450 National Guard soldiers to the border.
"While the federal government has abdicated its duties, Republican governors stand ready to protect the U.S.-Mexico border and keep families safe," the statement reads. "All states have suffered from the effects of deadly illegal drugs coming across the border, and every state is a border state due to the devastating influx of drugs in our communities. Republican governors are leading the way to address the border crisis by increasing fentanyl sentencing and increasing support for law enforcement interdiction of drugs, among other measures."
It's far from the first time Republican governors have banded together on border immigration issues. In April 2022, 26 Republicans agreed to cross-state law enforcement efforts to share intelligence and improve humanitarian efforts to protect children and families. In September 2021, Republican governors also issued a joint letter to the White House requesting a meeting to discuss the southern border.
