Nebraska soldiers head to the border; Pillen says federal money will cover cost

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers are heading to our country’s southern border on Wednesday.

Gov. Jim Pillen said they’ll help security and law enforcement efforts in Texas to “stem the ongoing influx of illegal drugs, weapons and criminals” into the United States.

This comes a week after Pillen was criticized for sending the Nebraska State Patrol on border missions, which have reportedly cost the state more than $600,000.

That’s an estimate by the Nebraska Examiner, which factored in deployments by former Gov. Pete Ricketts as well.

Pillen said that this latest mission is critical to the security of Nebraska and that federal funds will cover costs.

More than 60 soldiers will be supporting Operation Lone Star, which has led to tens of thousands of arrests, according to the governor’s press release.

It said 31,800 criminals have been taken into custody and 29,300 felony charges have been filed.

The operation has also seized 422 million doses of fentanyl and apprehended 397,900 immigrants in the country illegally, according to the press release.

The Nebraska soldiers are expected to return in early September.