OPINION: It’s called the National Guard for a reason

Gov. Mike Dunleavy does not seem to know how the National Guard works, and he also seems to have forgotten some history. Additionally, neither he, the governor of Texas nor Donald Trump seem to recognize the difference between a state border and an international border.

International borders are controlled by U.S. Customs and Border Control, composed of federal employees. The federal government sets rules, regulations and requirements for entry into the United States, not the state that may share a particular international border. Alaska does not set the standards for entry into Alaska from Canada; the United States does.

The National Guard is the country’s only nationally recognized militia; its members can be called to duty by the governor to respond to disasters, unusual rioting or disorders, or other emergencies within the state. But they are under ultimate control of the president, and they can be nationalized, or called up, by the president for use anywhere in the country. Other so-called militias are clubs or loose organizations for fellowship, recreation, a military pretense, or, in the case of the so-called Proud Boys, for armed insurrection.

An example from history illustrates the state vs. federal control dynamic of the National Guard. I remember following the news of these events very closely. In 1957, after the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared public schools segregated by race to be unconstitutional, Little Rock, Arkansas, was set to enroll the first Black students in its previously all-white public school. The Arkansas National Guard was called up by Gov. Orval Faubus, ostensibly to prevent violence; in reality, they had been ordered to prevent the Black students from enrolling. President Dwight D. Eisenhower nationalized the Arkansas National Guard, putting them under his command. Simultaneously, he sent 1,000 U.S. Army troops into Little Rock to enforce the new orders for the Guard troops. The Black students were enrolled.

Since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been using the National Guard in that state to interfere with the immigration policies Trump disagrees with, friction between the National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Control seems to have been steadily increasing. Dunleavy is such a blind follower of Trump that it seems he actually thought of sending some Alaska National Guard members to Texas to help Abbott. Great — now perhaps we can look forward to both the Texas National Guard and the Alaska National Guard being placed under exclusive federal control. You can’t make this stuff up.

Tom Nelson is a retired teacher, cross-country ski coach, setnet fisherman and fly fishing guide. He lives in Anchorage.

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