In June, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey asked all 50 governors to provide law enforcement support as their states were being ravaged by the Biden Border Crisis. 

According to federal reports, over 1 million migrants have been apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border this year, and Customs and Border Protection reports skyrocketing seizures of drugs and weapons, easily flowing in from the border. This has affected Iowans, as the Iowa Department of Public Safety has reported a significant jump in seizures of drugs in our state. For example, 6,641 grams of Fentanyl was seized from January through May of this year, an increase of 1,148% over last year. 

While the Biden Administration has failed every step of the way to secure our Southern border, Gov. Kim Reynolds answered the call and provided 28 law enforcement officers to Operation Lone Star.

During the mission, Iowa State Patrol, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, executed 240 criminal arrests, seized 948 pounds of marijuana, and 37 pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine. 

"While the Biden Administration continues to abdicate their responsibility at our nation's border, it's Republican Governors that are standing up to protect the country from illegal drugs, weapons and criminal activity such as smuggling, that's happening at our border," said Republican Party of Iowa Communications Director Kollin Crompton. "While Iowa Democrats and their allies continue to downplay the severity of what's happening, Gov. Reynolds is doing everything she can to stem the tide of illegal activity making its way to Iowa, and the ongoing, unchecked crisis of our open border."

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