Why we should keep sending the South Carolina National Guard to the southern U.S. border | Opinion

In June 2023, Gov. Henry McMaster sent 150 soldiers in the South Carolina National Guard to the U.S. southern border for 31 days to “help hold the line” there and “stop the drug cartels, criminals, and terrorists from entering our country to peddle their poison.”

Last October, McMaster deployed about 120 more members of the SC National Guard — from the 1055th Transportation Company headquartered in Laurens and the 132nd Military Police Company in West Columbia — in another decisive move to enhance national security and address illegal immigration.

The latest group of National Guard members are at the border now and will serve for one year, assisting U.S. Customs and Border Protection in managing a surge of illegal crossings.

The urgency of border security is deeply felt in South Carolina, particularly after the death of 3-year-old Maddie Hines in Laurens in October 2023. Maddie was killed when an immigrant in the U.S. illegally, reportedly deported under the Trump administration but who had re-entered under the Biden administration, ran a stop sign and crashed into her family’s vehicle on U.S. Highway 76, roughly 35 miles southeast of Greenville.

Maddie’s case is one of several tragic incidents that have fueled calls for stricter border enforcement and enhanced immigration policies in recent years.

I am the daughter of a decorated Army father and grew up living around the world, including Pakistan, where I was born, and Germany. My upbringing as a military child gave me a deep understanding of key issues like national security, service and the importance of protecting American values. Now, as owner and publisher of the Laurens County Buzz and a longtime resident of Clinton, I know how vital the National Guard is to our community and state.

I’m passionate about defending American values, supporting law enforcement and protecting South Carolina communities, and I’m also a vocal advocate for stronger border security policies and state-led efforts to combat illegal immigration. I believe South Carolina has a duty to stand up for its citizens and assist in national security efforts, including by using the South Carolina National Guard at the U.S. southern border.

The South Carolina National Guard’s mission is to reinforce federal border security efforts and assist Customs and Border Protection in addressing what has become an overwhelming crisis. Its key roles include:

• enhancing federal efforts — Guardsmen support Customs and Border Protection by increasing surveillance, monitoring high-risk areas and improving response times to border incursions.
• deterring criminal activity — Their presence helps disrupt drug cartels, human trafficking operations, and illegal crossings.
• assisting with logistical support — The military police and transportation units aid in transporting personnel and equipment, ensuring that Customs and Border Protection resources are used effectively.
• supporting public safety — By helping secure the border, fewer undocumented individuals re-enter the country illegally, reducing potential risks to communities.

In October, the Department of Defense said it has supported border security efforts in 19 of the past 23 years, highlighting the continued need for military assistance in securing the U.S. border.

Presidents have deployed National Guard troops to support security along the U.S. southern border repeatedly. President George W. Bush sent 6,000. President Barack Obama sent 1,200. President Donald Trump and Joe Biden also sent thousands of Guardsmen to the border.

South Carolina has seen a growing impact from illegal immigration. While estimates indicate 85,000 undocumented immigrants lived in the state in 2016, the number of individuals crossing the border undetected remains a major concern.

With border states overwhelmed, undocumented individuals continue to migrate inland, affecting South Carolina communities in ways that extend beyond economics. As a result, public safety, law enforcement resources and social services all bear the weight of weak border security.

Gov. McMaster underscored the necessity of this deployment in announcing his 2023 National Guard deployment, stating, “The safety and security of South Carolinians require that we stop the drug cartels, criminals, and terrorists from entering our country to peddle their poison.”

The deployment of the South Carolina National Guard highlights the state’s commitment to national security and border enforcement. With overwhelming illegal crossings and tragic cases like Maddie Hines’ death, the state is being proactive, supporting Customs and Border Protection efforts, protecting its communities, and ensuring border security remains a national priority.

This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Why we should keep sending the South Carolina National Guard to the southern U.S. border | Opinion."