Last week, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Alabama was joining the American Governors’ Border Strike Force, a group including 26 states that will coordinate efforts to deter illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Sunday before the green flag dropped for Talladega Superspeedway's GEICO 500, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth spoke to Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host Will Cain from the track's infield about Ivey's decision, which included sending Alabama National Guard troops to shore up the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to Ainsworth, drugs and human trafficking within Alabama motivated Ivey to participate in the multi-state "strike force."
"You know, you look at how this impacts Alabama -- I'm going to give you a local story," Ainsworth said. "I live in Guntersville, Alabama, split my time between there and Montgomery. You know, a small town -- just recently, last month, we had several teenage and college kids die from a fentanyl overdose with a drug batch that was tied back to Mexico. And so, when you look at the amount of drugs that are coming into America and President Biden's failed policies, I mean he hasn't protected the border. And so, at the end of the day, states are having to step up.
"I mean, we're having to do the job of the federal government. You know, I certainly want to commend Gov. Ivey, Gov. [Greg] Abbott and this strike force, which is one of the tools we've got. We can't just let people smuggle people in. And also this human trafficking side, when you look at that and the fact that has become maybe a bigger business than the drug side -- we've got a huge problem, and we have to solve it."
Ainsworth explained what Alabama's commitment to the situation included and blamed the Biden administration's failures for having to participate in the effort.
"First, we're going to put boots on the ground," Ainsworth said. "We're going to send the Alabama National Guard. We're sending law enforcement members. We're... making sure we are actually committed to getting a wall built.
"...President Trump said it best: you can't have a country without borders. You have to have borders and if the federal government is going to fail, then it is up to states to act, and Alabama and other conservative states -- should be all states, right? But we're going to step up to the plate and make sure we protect our border. We're going to send resources. We're going to send money and make sure Gov. Abbott has our full support in Alabama to make sure we stop this huge problem."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com.
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