On Thursday, Major General Michael T. McGuire, Adjutant General for the State of Arizona, testified at a House Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing entitled “Examining the Department of Defense’s Deployment to the U.S.-Mexico Border”. Major General McGuire is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of Arizona’s Army and Air National Guard, Joint Programs, and the Division of Emergency Management. He leads an 8,000-member department, of which 2,400 are full-time federal military and civilian personnel and 600 are full-time state employees. He also serves as the Director of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08): “Thank you to Major General McGuire for coming to Washington, D.C. today to speak to the situation on the ground at our southern border. The border crisis is straining our communities’ resources, Arizona mayors are declaring states of emergencies, and our churches and other nonprofits are overwhelmed with the huge influx of illegal immigrants. Major General McGuire and the Arizona National Guard are helping Customs and Border Protection secure the border, stop illegal drug trafficking and human smuggling, and aiding in search and rescue efforts. Today’s hearing illustrated the urgent need for emergency humanitarian aid requested by President Trump, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Homeland Security to provide medical care, shelter, and transportation for migrant families and children in our care.”