Homeland Security Announces Details About National Guard Deployment at Border

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told media on April 4 that she has spoken to all four of the governors whose states share a border with Mexico and that they are ready to deploy the National Guard. Memorandums of Understanding are currently being drawn up with the governors. Nielsen did not give the size of the deployment, nor the duration; saying she didn’t want to get ahead of the governors, but “it will be strong.” “It will be as many as needed to fill the gaps today,” Nielsen said. Former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama both used the National Guard for southwest border security during their presidencies.