Gov. Henry McMaster on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, directed the deployment of South Carolina National Guard troops to the U.S. Southern border in Texas to work with U.S. Border Patrol agents following the end of Title 42 immigration restrictions. 

"At the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, I have directed the deployment of South Carolina National Guard troops to Texas to help hold the line on the Southern border," McMaster said. "The safety and security of South Carolinians require that we stop the drug cartels, criminals, and terrorists from entering our country to peddle their poison."

This announcement follows a request for assistance from Texas’ Abbott and a border security briefing held May 22 in Austin, Texas, attended by McMaster and eight other governors.  

The mission remains in the planning phase, and exact details, including the number of troops, will be finalized in the coming weeks with the goal of deployment by July 1.