When we have Chinese-manufactured fentanyl coming in through Mexico, it only takes a very, very small amount of it to kill a Texan. They are being successful down there and we need to continue elaborating on that in a very data-driven way.ĭo you think this is is money well spent? I believe this mission was earmarked for something like $2 billion in the last legislative session. It’s important for the leadership of the Texas Military Department every hour to explain the mission, explain how our great troops down there are accomplishing it. But in another part of the sector, because of their presence in one part of the sector, we may see an uptick in another part of the sector. It may mean that our troops do not see anything for days because of their presence there. The mission is clear: their mission at this point in time is to interdict the flow of illegal immigration and drug trafficking across our southern border in order to maintain safe communities in Texas. We welcome the questions, the inquiries of our troops. What about the report of many expressing a lack of meaningful assignments? Do you think that’s accurate in your experience? So we want to make sure that we continue to improve the security posture on the border where we can shorten significantly the length of these deployments and allow our soldiers to spend a vast amount of their time with their families. We hope to talk more about that coming up.Īlso, the stress: a 12-month deployment is very, very long. So I think improving the quality of life, the living conditions, that is something that the Texas Military Department has really, really v-curved-up on. I’ve actually slept in the billets, I’ve walked their base camps, ate their food. Let me tell you some of the things I think we’re progressing on to mitigate these scenarios: one, I have spent a few days down at the border with the Texas Military Department. We always want to do a deep dive and ensure that it doesn’t happen again. How does your committee plan to further look into these incidents and prevent more loss of life? An Army Times report found the suicides of four Guard members tied with the border mission. This isn’t the only death associated with Operation Lone Star. But his sacrifice, the state of Texas is grateful for his sacrifice on behalf of the security and safety of the citizens of the state. As a veteran, we are trained to safeguard the people that we’re about to take control or detain. We know he did what he was trained to do. And everything that his family is due, we’re working hard with the Texas Military Department on that as well.Ĭan you tell us anything more? Do we know anything more about his death? And we are working with our partners over at the Texas Military Department to make sure that his honors are done appropriately. White: The entire state of Texas, and especially myself and the members of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety, we are deeply saddened and grieved by the passing of this Texas hero, Specialist Bishop Evans. Texas Standard: First, can you give us your reaction to the death of Specialist Bishop E. This interview has been edited lightly for clarity. Listen to the interview with White in the audio player above or read the transcript below. He tells the Texas Standard he believes the mission, which costs Texas taxpayers more than $2 billion per year, has been money well spent, and that the Texas Military Department has begun to solve some of the issues that have plagued the mission. James White of Hillister chairs that committee. Photo: Jay Godwin/LBJ Library (Public Domain) White at an event at the LBJ Library at UT-Austin in 2015.
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