120 Michigan National Guard soldiers deployed to southern border

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has approved the deployment of about 120 members of the Michigan Army National Guard to assist U.S. Customs and Border Patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border, the fifth deployment to the southwest border for the Michigan National Guard since 2020.

The members of the 1463rd Transportation Co. will “provide mission enhancing support to CBP’s border security operations” and are expected to remain in the southwest area of the border for up to a year.

"The Michigan National Guard is known nationwide for their professionalism, and they have stepped up to protect and serve their fellow Americans when called upon under both Democratic and Republican presidents,” Whitmer said Friday. “Now, around 120 soldiers are preparing once again to answer the call of duty at our southern border, adding to the robust efforts that have led to border crossings hitting a four-year low.”

A record 14 million illegal border crossings have occurred under the Biden-Harris administration, with nearly 3 million occurring during the past 2024 fiscal year, the second-highest number in U.S. history.

About 1.8 million migrants during the past four years are “got-aways,” meaning migrants who were detected entering the U.S. but evaded capture and remain at large in the country.

"The Michigan National Guard maintains a high level of readiness and is prepared to deploy and serve at a moment’s notice,” U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said in response to the deployment. “As these soldiers deploy in support of U.S. Northern Command, our Family Programs Office will be there to offer support and resources to their families whose steadfast support is critical to the success of our Soldiers.”

During the past year, other Democrat governors have utilized their National Guards to help address the border crisis as well, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom in June doubling the number of soldiers assigned to counter fentanyl smuggling at ports statewide.

The most recent data also shows that at least 1.62 million migrants are from four Countries of Particular Concern: Cuba, Nicaragua, Russia, and China.

Republican members of Congress have expressed alarm about national security threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party, including Chinese intelligence outposts operating in the U.S., Chinese and other illegal border crossers breaching U.S. military bases, as reported by The Center Square.