West Central PA News

The Pennsylvania Senate has taken a significant step in national security by passing legislation urging Governor Josh Shapiro to deploy the Pennsylvania National Guard to support "Operation Lone Star" in Texas. Senator Joe Pittman emphasized the importance of this action, stating, “This crisis knows no borders, it knows no bounds.”

Pittman highlighted the impact of illegal immigration by referencing the tragic case of Laken Riley, who was murdered by an illegal immigrant. He also criticized the response to this issue, noting, “President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address was candid in his acknowledgement that she was murdered by an illegal immigrant. I was impressed with that moment of candor, only to realize that in 12 hours, the President walked his statement back because so many in his own party were offended by it.”

The resolution passed by the Pennsylvania Senate aims to address the negative effects of illegal immigration and the border crisis, which have been felt in communities across the country. Senator Pittman stressed the need to combat human trafficking facilitated by weak border security and lax immigration policies, stating, “Weak border security and lax immigration policies create an easy avenue for cartels to force more innocent people, including children, into human trafficking.”

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas initiated Operation Lone Star in response to the illegal immigration crisis along the Texas-Mexico border. Despite requests for support from various states, including Pennsylvania, for the operation, Governor Shapiro has yet to deploy Pennsylvania National Guard assets to Texas.

Operation Lone Star has resulted in significant outcomes, including more than 500,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions, over 40,000 criminal arrests, and the seizure of more than 468 million lethal doses of fentanyl. The operation has been supported by 14 states, with personnel and resources deployed to secure the border.

A report from 2023 revealed that at least 251,000 illegal immigrants reside in Pennsylvania, costing taxpayers more than $1.6 billion annually. This financial burden equates to approximately $318 per Pennsylvania household each year, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Senator Pittman emphasized the importance of unity among states in addressing national security issues, stating, “We are in fact a United States of America, which means we as states must come together and work to protect all of our citizens, regardless of the state in which they live.”

The Pennsylvania Senate's resolution reflects a commitment to enhancing national security efforts and protecting communities from the negative impacts of illegal immigration and border insecurity.