Opinion: There’s a reason they’re called the National Guard.

Has been updated: Five by the time release date: Five by the time

Governor Mike Dunleavy doesn’t seem to know how the National Guard works and seems to have forgotten some of the history. Moreover, neither the Texas governor nor Donald Trump seem to recognize the difference between state lines and borders.

The border is controlled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is made up of federal employees. It is the federal government that sets the rules, regulations, and requirements for entry into the United States, not the states with which we share specific borders. Alaska does not set standards for entry into Alaska from Canada. The US does that.

The National Guard is the country’s only nationally recognized militia. Its members may be called to duty by the governor to respond to disasters, unusual riots or disturbances, or other emergencies within the state. However, they are under the ultimate control of the president and can be nationalized or convened for use anywhere in the country by the president. Other so-called militia organizations are clubs or loose organizations for purposes of fellowship, recreation, military pretense, or, in the case of the so-called Proud Boys, armed insurrection.

Historical examples illustrate the relationship between the National Guard and the federal government’s control of the National Guard. I remember closely following the news of these events. In 1957, after the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared racially segregated public schools unconstitutional, Little Rock, Arkansas, opened its previously all-white public schools. The school admitted its first black students. The Arkansas National Guard was called in by Governor Orval Faubus, ostensibly to prevent violence. In reality, they were ordered to prevent black students from enrolling. President Dwight D. Eisenhower nationalized the Arkansas National Guard and placed it under his command. At the same time, he sent 1,000 U.S. Army soldiers to Little Rock to enforce new orders for the Guard. Black students were also admitted.

Friction between the National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection has steadily increased since Texas Governor Greg Abbott used the state’s National Guard to block immigration policies with which President Trump disagrees. It seems there is. Mr. Dunleavy is a blind follower of Mr. Trump and appears to have actually considered sending several members of the Alaska National Guard to Texas to help Mr. Abbott. That’s excellent. Now, we might expect both the Texas National Guard and the Alaska National Guard to come under exclusive federal control. You can’t make something like this up.

tom nelson He is a former teacher, cross-country ski coach, set net fisherman, and fly fishing guide. He lives in Anchorage.

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