South Dakota deploys National Guard troops to southern US border for seventh time in five years

WAGNER — About 120 South Dakota National Guard soldiers are deploying to the U.S.-Mexico border for a year at the request of the federal government, the state’s seventh border deployment since 2021.

The state Guard’s Adjutant Gen. Mark Morrell spoke to a full gymnasium of family and community members at a ceremony Thursday in the southeast South Dakota city of Wagner.

“For our soldiers, today represents a commitment to serve,” Morrell said. “For their families, it represents a sacrifice, a little bit of uncertainty, and the beginning of a long separation.”

The soldiers are members of the Wagner-based 155th Engineer Company and come from 49 communities across South Dakota, according to the National Guard.

The unit will provide logistical and personnel support to the U.S. Border Patrol. According to the Guard, soldiers do not perform law enforcement roles. 

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and Gov. Larry Rhoden, all Republicans, also spoke during the event. Johnson lives in Mitchell, about 60 miles from Wagner.

“This community, this state, and this nation understand what raising your right hand, and what being willing to answer that call, what kind of an impact that has on our country and on your family,” Johnson said. “So on behalf of a grateful nation, let me say thank you for serving.” 

The National Guard said family and employer support programs will assist soldiers and their families throughout the year-long deployment. 

The deployment continues a series of southern border missions involving South Dakota National Guard members dating to 2021. Then-Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, ordered three of the deployments to assist the state of Texas and funded them with over $1 million from the state’s emergency and disaster fund, plus a $1 million donation from billionaire Tennessee businessman Willis Johnson. The federal government requested and paid for the other four.

The 155th Engineer Company previously deployed to Kuwait from 2003 to 2005 and again from 2015 to 2016.

Rhoden, who served in the National Guard, told the audience in Wagner that the U.S. now has “the most secure border in American history. But there is still more work to do, and we cannot give up the fight.” 

Searchlight asked Rhoden after the ceremony whether he foresees the rate of South Dakota National Guard deployments to the southern border slowing down, or whether border deployments are a new normal. 

“It’s hard for me to know, you know, it’s not my job,” he said. “Most of these deployments have been federal deployments. And so, it’ll depend on what happens at the federal level.”

Rhoden invited Morrell to chime in. 

“As far as the administration, Department of War is concerned, our objective has been to secure the border, and whatever force it takes to continue to do that, I’m sure is what they’ll ask for,” Morrell said. “Our job in South Dakota is to be ready and say yes.”