State Rep. Brian BeGole, of Antrim Township, is pushing for a needed step Michigan can take to assist with ongoing issues at the U.S. border with Mexico and protect residents.

This week, BeGole supported a House resolution urging the governor to join several other states by sending members of the Michigan National Guard to the southern border. He also recently signed onto a letter to the governor calling for her to send National Guard members. The resolution, HR 237, was directed to a committee by Democrat majority in the House instead of being taken up on the floor.

“The data very clearly shows the dangers that relaxed border policies at the federal level present to our state and our local communities,” BeGole said. “Drugs like fentanyl and people with past arrest warrants, criminal records or possible ties to terrorist groups are flowing into our neighborhoods at record levels. These aren’t problems we should ignore. Sending troops would send a clear message that Michigan is going to be a leader in addressing this crisis. Every day that’s wasted is another day where people and their families are at risk because of these policies.”

In December, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded more than 250,000 encounters with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border – setting a new all-time high. The new record marked the 10^th time encounters have surpassed 200,000 in a month since 2021. Border Patrol also encountered 172 individuals on the terrorist watchlist between ports of entry during the 2023 fiscal year – nearly double the number encountered in the previous fiscal year and more than the past six fiscal years combined.

In April, BeGole introduced a resolution urging the United States Secretary of State to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, recognizing the security threat they pose to people and their families, as well as the economic interests of the country. The FTO designation economically isolates violent groups, deters commercial and financial assistance, and prompts other world governments to take action against the groups. That resolution, HR 234, was also referred to committee by House Democrats.

BeGole has over 30 years of law enforcement experience, including six as Shiawassee County Sheriff, prior to serving in the Legislature.