About 120 soldiers assigned to the Michigan Army National Guard’s 1463rd Transportation Company, based out of Battle Creek, will gather with their families and guests at Lakeview Middle School Saturday as they prepare to depart for deployment to the southwest border.
Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North, their mission is to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The soldiers are expected to be deployed for up to a year.
The soldiers will provide support to CBP’s border security operations to enable CBP agents to conduct their law enforcement mission, according to a news release from the state. The 1463rd Transportation Company last deployed to Iraq in 2008.
This will be the fifth deployment to the southwest border for the Michigan National Guard since 2020. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer approved prior deployments to the border in 2021 and 2022 under President Joe Biden, and in 2020 under President Donald Trump.
“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 in a statement. “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. Together, we will make sure our guard members have the resources they need to carry out their missions successfully and ensure their families can thrive at home.”