Nebraska’s Jim Pillen was among 13 Republican governors who met in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Sunday for an in-person security update on the Texas government’s Operation Lone Star at the southern border.
Pillen and Nebraska National Guard Adjutant Gen. Craig Strong went to Texas amid national attention to the flood of migrants crossing the border. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the visiting governors also attended a news conference following the briefing.
“The mission to secure the border is critical to the security of Nebraskans as well as all Americans,†Pillen, who did not speak at the news conference, said in a statement prior to leaving for Texas. “We need to continue our support of Operation Lone Star and will assess additional resources Nebraska can offer to secure the border, and stop the flow of illegal drugs, and end the humanitarian crisis.â€
Texas and the U.S. government are in a turf war over immigration enforcement. A divided U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the U.S. Border Patrol to cut razor wire that Texas installed, but the state continues to erect more. The Border Patrol has been denied entry to a riverfront park in Eagle Pass that is being patrolled by the Texas National Guard.
Critics contend that Abbott’s policies are aimed at trying to give Republicans an edge heading into the 2024 general election. Abbott, who has endorsed Donald Trump, denied that was his motive.
“The average American is angry,†Abbott said Sunday. “The No. 1 issue (in the country) is the broken border.â€
Jane Kleeb, the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said Sunday that the Republican governors detracted from efforts to find a bipartisan solution.
“President Biden and bipartisan members of the Senate have come to the table to create a humane solution to the crisis happening at the border. But instead of making sure the bill gets through the House and onto the president’s desk for signature, Gov. Pillen and other extremist Republican governors would rather engage in political theater,†Kleeb said.
Senate negotiators on Friday reached a deal on a proposal to overhaul the asylum system at the U.S. border with Mexico, clearing the way for Democratic and Republican Senate leaders to begin the difficult task of convincing Congress to pass a national security package that will include tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine and immigration enforcement, as well as funding for Israel and other American allies.
Last year, Nebraska deployed drone operators from the State Patrol to assist with surveillance operations at a cost of $600,000. During the summer, more than 60 members of the Nebraska National Guard conducted operations alongside Texas authorities to turn back and detain migrants illegally crossing the border.
The Nebraska National Guard sent soldiers to the border on Aug. 2 and they returned in early September. They were to assist the Texas National Guard by observing and reporting border crossings. The cost of their deployment could be up to $2 million.
This story includes information from the Associated Press.
Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
Lennie Kuszak of Ord carries a flag that reads "God is pro-life" during the annual Walk for Life rally outside of the Capitol on Saturday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Kayla Newnam works on her Nebraska-inspired mural at the Hub Cafe, on Tuesday in Lincoln. Three years into her national murals project, "Out There Murals," Newnam is well on her way to her goal of painting a mural in every state. Newnam, based out of Phoenix, Arizona, started the project during the pandemic and has been crisscrossing the U.S. "It has been three years, two trucks, two trailers and three dogs, and now I'm on mural 18," Newnam said. Lincolnites are invited to come and meet Newnam on Wednesday at the Hub Cafe as she works on the latest mural between 5-9 p.m.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Dat Tran tosses a bluegill back into the water while ice fishing at Holmes Lake on Friday. The ice measured at approximately 8 inches thick, but it probably won't stay that thick for long. While weekend highs are expected to remain in the mid to upper 30s, Lincoln is headed for a warmup next week. High temperatures are forecast to be in the low 40s Monday-Wednesday, with 50s possible Thursday and Friday.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
High School students in the welding course sit on a table as they meet with Gov. Jim Pillen during his tour of The Career Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in Lincoln.
TCA is one of Lincoln Public Schools’ focus programs and it’s a collaboration between LPS and Southeast Community College (SCC). The program allows high school juniors and seniors to take specific career pathways courses while earning credits from LPS and SCC.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Students are silhouetted by the sun glare coming from a window as they work in independent study rooms at Kiewit Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. Kiewit Hall, the six-story, privately funded, $115 million building on the UNL campus, is the academic hub for engineering education. It connects five engineering facilities and is home to the construction management program. It offers a mix of multi-purpose classrooms, instructional labs, engineering student services, maker spaces for student organizations and a large outdoor plaza. It opened to students on Jan. 22, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
University of Nebraska-Lincoln turfgrass science and management freshman Josh Hong cheers as he is shown on the video board during the Ohio State game on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Columbus' Colin Jaster bowls during the HAC Bowling Championships on Wednesday at Sun Valley Lanes.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Second grade student Ethan Sedivy, 8, holds up a globe in front of a wall mural of 174 various world flags, of which he drew 167 of, as it is displayed in a classroom at Morley Elementary School, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. Ethan’s passion for geography has sparked new friendships throughout the school, especially with immigrant students. He is currently working on a Geography Bee for Morley’s fifth graders. He has plans to continue his project, even adding some posters to add facts and populations of the various countries he has learned about.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Wahoo's Gretchen Seagren (left) and Malcom's Abby Zegar collide while going for a rebound during the game on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Malcom.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga (30) celebrates after making a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Huskers' win over Northwestern on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Performers take part in the Lion Dance during a Karen New Year celebration Sunday at Lincoln High School. The Karen Society of Nebraska put on the event, which celebrates the culture of the Karen, an ethnic group from Myanmar and Thailand. The celebration featured a fashion show, traditional dance performances, music and food.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Nebraska's Jamarques Lawrence (10) high-fives alumni as he takes to the court before the match against Northwestern at Pinnacle Bank Arena, on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
A corncob sign hangs on the plexiglass for the Cornhusker Bonspiel tournament on Saturday. Ten curling teams from across the country competed in the tournament.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
A customer places a sports bet on a kiosk at WarHorse Casino on Friday. The state's four racetrack casinos brought in just over $89 million in revenue from slot machines, table games and sports betting in 2023.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Bundled up students enter Sheridan Elementary School before the start of the school day on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen speaks during the annual State of the State address at the Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Michigan's Taylor Williams (left) and Laila Phelia (right) compete for a rebound with Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (center) in the first half on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Lincoln East's Grant Schwerdtfeger (top) wrestles Millard South's Austin Summers in the 190-pound match on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Lincoln Northeast's head coach Matt VanEngen writes "How Bad Do We Want It ?!?" on his dry erase board during a timeout in the final two minutes of the second half at Lincoln Northeast High School, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Black Hills Energy workers use machinery to dig into the ground in front of the rubble of a home that exploded early Tuesday morning near North 53rd and Gladstone streets. A neighboring house also sustained fire damage.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
John and Ashley McClinton look at their son Buddy at their home in Lincoln on Monday. Weighing 14.1 ounces at birth, he is the smallest baby born at Methodist Women's Hospital in Omaha to survive and be discharged with minimal support.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Snow topped apartments are seen through a third floor window stairwell on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
A man wearing a leopard print blanket braves bitter cold gusts of snow and wind as he walks down South 17th Street, on Friday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (40) attempts a shot against Illinois in the first half Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga (30) reacts after scoring a 3-pointer against Purdue in the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska's Juwan Gary (4) celebrates with fans after the Huskers defeated No. 1 Purdue on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.Â
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska Wesleyan students Lucas Steuter (from left), Riley Cleaver, Jacob Wertz, and Zane Rosenberg try to hold together as they fly down a hill on their sleds at Holmes Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Ryan Gardner (left), production stage manager for "Les Miserables," works to adjust lighting on stage at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Tuesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Traffic is seen moving down K Street in the snow on Monday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska's Jaz Shelley (front) competes for the ball with Indiana's Sara Scalia in the first quarter on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
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Nebraska's Peyton Robb looks to pin Wyoming's Cooper Voorhees in the 157lb match at the Devaney Sports Center, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Wyoming's Mason Ding is taken to the floor after a leg sweep by Nebraska's Nash Hutmacher in the Heavyweight match at the Devaney Sports Center, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Mike Alessi (center) jumps during the General Tire Arenacross Nationals event on Friday at Sandhills Global Event Center. The show will be back again tonight at the Event Center at the TractorHouse Pavilion. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m. The track was built using 150 dump truckloads of dirt.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Chloe Wolff shows off some of the bracelets Friday that she made to raise money for local nonprofits.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln East's Landon Moser slams Kearney's Taj Wilson to the mat during the 165lb match, during a dual held at Lincoln East High School, on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.
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A red panda eats bamboo leaves that came in a wrapped present at the Lincoln Children's Zoo on Thursday. As part of an enrichment day, zookeepers shared holiday-themed treats — a lettuce Christmas tree for the tortoises and Christmas "cookies" for the giraffes — to help stimulate the animals' natural behaviors.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's C.J. Wilcher (0) celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha (left) speaks to Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner during the first day of the Legislature on Wednesday.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Lincoln East's Avari Wischhof swims the girls 100-yard freestyle during a dual against Omaha Marian on Tuesday at Lincoln East. Wischof won this event and helped the Spartans set a pool record in the 400 relay.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Omaha Marian's Willow Petri spins through the air as she completes a dive in the Girls 1 meter diving event, during a Swim dual held at Lincoln East High School, on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, in Lincoln.
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Maryland's Allie Kubek (14) reacts after being called for a foul against Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (not pictured) in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena, on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.
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A pair of walkers stroll atop the dam at Holmes Lake at sunset on Saturday. Weather in Lincoln this January is expected to be frigid. Single-digit temperatures are expected at least for the first week.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A pig is seen on the desk of Gov. Jim Pillen, Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
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