Bismarck   – Senator John Hoeven Tuesday issued the following statement after the North Dakota National Guard’s 957th Engineer Company was alerted for duty at the nation’s southwestern border to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Concurrently, Hoeven met with Mexican President Andrés Obrador this week as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation visit to Mexico City, where he outlined the importance of the U.S. and Mexico continuing to work together to stop human and drug trafficking and ensure the border is secure. This visit builds on Hoeven’s trip to the southern border in March, where he assessed the illegal immigration crisis, met with border patrol agents and reviewed CBP operations and facilities.

Senator Hoeven said, “North Dakota’s guard members have risen to the occasion time and again to defend our state and nation, and their dedication and professionalism will be an important asset to CBP operations.  The crisis at our southern border is a real security risk and brings significant harm to the families and children being trafficked, as well as communities impacted by the illegal drug trade on both sides of the border. That’s why we’ve traveled to Mexico City to discuss the severity of these issues with President Obrador and emphasized the need for both of our nations to continue working together in resolving this crisis and securing the border over the long-term.”

Earlier…

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota National Guard says about 125 soldiers from a Bismarck-based unit will be sent to the U.S. border with Mexico later this year for an undetermined amount of time. The soldiers from the 957th Engineer Company are expected to begin the deployment this fall. Gov. Doug Burgum’s office says the request was made Department of the Army. Burgum says the soldiers will “support the efforts to secure our border.” The governor’s office says the deployment is being funded by the federal government. Burgum is among a growing list of Republican governors promising to send law enforcement officers to Texas. Republican governors from Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska and Iowa have all committed to sending law enforcement officers for border security.