Michigan Guard Sends 100 Soldiers to Border
More than 100 Michigan Army National Guard soldiers from the 1432nd Engineer Company are deployed to the southwest border, the state's seventh such deployment since 2020.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Military
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More than 100 Michigan Army National Guard soldiers assigned to the 1432nd Engineer Company were sent to the southwest border after a departure ceremony at Escanaba High School in October. The soldiers will provide mission-enhancing support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations under the direction of U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North.
Why it matters
The deployment marks the seventh time Michigan National Guard personnel have been sent to the southwest border since 2020, reflecting repeated federal requests for Guard support across administrations. The soldiers are anticipated to serve for up to a year.
The deployment includes more than 100 soldiers, the seventh Michigan National Guard southwest border deployment since 2020, with authorizations under both the Trump and Biden administrations. The exact soldier count and final return date remain unspecified in the available reporting.
The players
Michigan Army National Guard
The state militia component of the U.S. Army that provides trained military units to Michigan and, when federally activated, to national missions.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
The federal law enforcement agency responsible for border security and port of entry operations, which the deployed soldiers are supporting.
U.S. Northern Command
The U.S. military command responsible for homeland defense and civil support, which directs this deployment through Joint Task Force North.
The details
The soldiers of the Michigan Army National Guard's 1432nd Engineer Company, based in Kingsford and Gladstone, gathered with their families at Escanaba High School in October for a departure ceremony. They will support federal agents by performing mission-enhancing tasks that enable U.S. Customs and Border Protection law enforcement operations.
Timeline
2020: First Michigan National Guard southwest border deployment authorized under President Donald Trump.
2021: Michigan National Guard southwest border deployment authorized under President Joe Biden.
2022: Michigan National Guard southwest border deployment authorized under President Joe Biden.
2024: Michigan National Guard southwest border deployment authorized under President Joe Biden.
October 2025: Departure ceremony held at Escanaba High School before the deployment.
Border Support Pattern
This seventh Michigan deployment continues a pattern of southwest border National Guard support first authorized in 2020 under President Donald Trump and renewed under Presidents Trump and Biden. The repeated authorizations show a sustained federal reliance on state Guard units for CBP support rather than a single-year emergency response.
Families of the more than 100 deployed soldiers face a deployment of up to a year away from home. Michigan residents may see Guard personnel leave the state for an extended federal mission.
The takeaway
Repeated Guard deployments mean the state's military units carry a recurring federal workload, and families of deployed members should expect extended separations. Tracking future authorizations offers a clear view of how long this support mission continues.
Further reading
For more on Guard operations, see the Military section.
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