Local News

Gov. Walker, back in La Crosse, defends sending National Guard to border

Published

7 years ago

June 21, 2018

The practice of separating migrant children from their parents crossing the Mexican border is being halted by an Executive Order, but National Guard troops have still been asked to help with border patrol.

While other states have denied sending troops, Wisconsin’s guard members are still headed to Arizona.

Gov. Scot Walker, during a La Crosse visit on Wednesday promoting Dura-Tech’s building expansion, said many have tried to politicize the guard deployment because of the immigration issue.

Walker, who was just in La Crosse June 17 promoting his $100 child tax credit, has been criticized for not speaking out on the separation of migrant children from their families.

Of sending troops to the border, Walker justified it, saying presidents before Donald Trump have made similar requests in the past.

“I still think it’s appropriate,” Walker said of sending Wisconsin troops, before mentioning Barack Obama and George W. Bush did it. “So, this is not inconsistent.”

The Bush and Obama operations cost $1.3 billion and were criticized as costly and inefficient.

Related Topics:migrant children scott walker trump

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.