The Utah National Guard is “standing by” in case they’re called to the U.S.-Mexico border, per President Donald Trump’s recent requests that the military secure the border until his pledged wall is in place.
Trump called on the military Tuesday, and the Department of Homeland Security announced the next day that National Guard members would likely be mobilized for the job.
Utah National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Steven Fairbourn told The Salt Lake Tribune that servicewomen and -men hadn’t received orders yet, but were “standing by” for the directive.
“If the call comes down, of course we will stand and serve and make sure we’re safe here at home,” he said.
Fairbourn said the order would need to work its way through the regular bureaucratic channels before it gets to the Utah National Guard — moving from the Department of Defense, to the Department of the Army, then the National Guard Bureau and, finally, the individual state and territories.
“This, of course, will take a little time,” he said.
The Department of Homeland Security has said National Guard units will be deployed “in coordination with governors,” who normally direct the state’s National Guard units.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert on Friday declined through a spokeswoman to comment on the matter.
Fairbourn added that National Guard units aren’t all comprised of the same types of forces, and that the military would likely choose groups that are both available and best suited for working at the border.
National Guard members were ordered to help with security along the Mexico-U.S. border in 1986 and from 2006 to 2008, according to the Department of Defense.
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