UPDATE: Several hours after this story ran, Governor Evers unveiled his executive order pulling Wisconsin National Guard troops from the southern border
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has ordered Wisconsin National Guard troops to abandon their mission on America's southern border, an Illinois Congressman who serves as an Air National Guard member claimed Monday.
"We heard from the Tucson sector [of the Border Patrol] that they got word from the Wisconsin Governor that Guard troops are to be out on March 3rd," Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) said on The Dan O'Donnell Show Monday morning. "He's pulling them out."
The Evers Administration has not yet confirmed Kinzinger's report, which the Congressman also made on "FOX and Friends" on the FOX News channel Monday.
"I was actually more shocked that the Governor never announced anything," Kinzinger said. "I think he was trying to do this maybe under the radar to please his base but also understood that Wisconsin wouldn't be supportive."
Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker ordered National Guard troops to the border over the summer. He lost his bid for a third term in office to Evers in November.
Kinzinger, who has represented the Peoria, Illinois area in Congress since 2011, is a Lieutenant Colonel in the 115th Fighter Wing unit of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. He says he decided to speak out about Gov. Evers' plans when it became clear that Evers was not going to publicly announce his decision to pull troops from the border.
"You have some heroes in the National Guard," Kinzinger said. "They were doing fantastic work and literally saving lives and because of politics your Governor has pulled them."