HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.237
Reps. Cavitt, Markkanen, Rigas, Hoadley, Friske, Alexander,
Maddock, DeBoyer, Roth, Harris, Beson, Beeler, Mueller, Bierlein,
Borton, Bollin, Outman, Kunse, BeGole, Johnsen, St. Germaine,
Wozniak, Lightner, Steele, DeSana, Schuette, Posthumus, Bruck,
Aragona, Meerman, Neyer, Schriver, Fox, Zorn and Jaime Greene offered
the following resolution:
1 A resolution to urge the Governor to send members of the
2 Michigan National Guard to the Texan southern border, where their
3 support is desperately needed.
4 Whereas, The United States is facing a logistical and
5 humanitarian crisis at its southern border. Encounters at the
6 southwest land border increased by more than 40 percent from fiscal
7 year 2021 to fiscal year 2023, and by more than 150 percent
8 compared to fiscal year 2019. Since January 2021, there have been
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1 more than 7.7 million encounters between U.S. Customs and Border
2 Protection and migrants at the southwest border, in addition to
3 more than 1.8 million known “gotaways.” According to a recent
4 survey, 78 percent of Americans feel that the large number of
5 migrants seeking to cross the border from Mexico into the United
6 States is either a crisis (45 percent) or a major problem (32
7 percent). This is not only a logistical crisis for our nation’s
8 border control and immigration authorities but also a humanitarian
9 crisis. The consequences of the border security crisis are felt
10 throughout the nation; and
11 Whereas, The state of Texas has been particularly impacted by
12 the immigration and border security crisis. On May 31, 2021, the
13 Governor of Texas issued a proclamation certifying that “the
14 ongoing surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico
15 border poses an ongoing and imminent threat” of harm, as well as
16 constituting “a violation of sovereignty of territorial integrity,”
17 and declared a state of disaster. This border security disaster
18 proclamation has been repeatedly renewed since that date, most
19 recently on April 16, 2024, when the disaster was renewed for 62
20 counties. Local resources in Texas are overwhelmed by the urgent
21 needs resulting from this crisis, and families will continue to
22 suffer unless action is taken; and
23 Whereas, Other states across the nation are stepping up to
24 assist the state of Texas in responding to this situation. The
25 Governor of Texas has written to the governors of other states
26 requesting assistance under the Emergency Management Assistance
27 Compact, and at least 19 states have sent or plan to send National
28 Guard troops or other aid to the border to help alleviate this
29 crisis. The state of Florida has provided additional resources,
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1 including drones and watercraft, for use along the southern border;
2 and
3 Whereas, Compassion and support for those who need it are
4 foundational tenets of our state. Sending the Michigan National
5 Guard to assist in Texas would not only provide much-needed relief
6 to the overwhelmed local systems but also serve as a testament to
7 those very values; and
8 Whereas, The Michigan National Guard is world-renowned for its
9 professionalism and skill. The troops’ expertise in logistics,
10 medical assistance, and crowd management would greatly benefit the
11 efforts at the border, helping Texan and federal authorities to
12 finally achieve safety and order; now, therefore, be it
13 Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the
14 Governor to send members of the Michigan National Guard to the
15 Texan southern border, where their support is desperately needed;
16 and be it further
17 Resolved, That we urge the Governor to stand with other states
18 that have taken action not only in deploying troops but in sending
19 aid to the southern border; and be it further
20 Resolved, That we urge the Governor to take an active role in
21 combatting the immigration crisis, both by assisting another state
22 in its hour of need and by providing humanitarian relief to the
23 individuals affected; and be it further
24 Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the
25 Governor of Michigan.
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