Louisiana plans to deploy 150 National Guard troops to southern border amid surge in illegal immigrants

 Louisiana plans to deploy 150 National Guard troops to its southern border in Texas amid Congress' failure to secure a border agreement.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry announced the move Thursday in Baton Rouge, adding himself to the growing list of Republican governors who are supporting Texas with resources amid the state's battle with the Biden administration over border security. Are offering to do.

"Because the federal government won't act, because the President won't do his job, because Congress refuses to enact a solid immigration plan that protects this country and allows people to come in and out of this country as intended." That's been done from the beginning, the state is going to take action," Landry said.

He said the federal government has essentially, "been blowing the whistle on people who are trying to come into the country illegally, saying, 'Listen, if you swim in the Rio Grande we'll let you go that way. '"

The deployment of Louisiana Guard troops is expected in March at an estimated cost of $3 million. The move still needs to be approved by the state's Republican-controlled Legislature.

Border troops will not have the power to detain migrants, Brig. Gen. Michael Greer, director of the Louisiana Department of Defense, said Thursday.

In addition to Louisiana, Florida has sent about 1,000 members of its National Guard to the border.

Texas Governor Abbott is engaged in a legal battle with the Biden administration over measures to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the US.

Meanwhile, Republicans have strongly criticized Biden over the increase in the number of migrants coming to the US.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Abbott's office.