While the illegal migrant crisis continues at the U.S. southern border, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) wants to make sure the northern border doesn't become just as bad.
During a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting Thursday, Tuberville questioned General Gregory M. Guillot, Commander of the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, and General Laura J. Richardson, Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, about what is being done to secure northern border and if Canada was being cooperative as part of NORTHCOM.
Guillot said that since the first day of his command, he had met with the Minister of National Defense and Canada's chief of the defense staff and they had talked about Canada's commitment to NORAD and modernization. They also told him they were committed to funding aligned for F-35s and over-the-horizon-radar, P8 Poseidons, and MQ-9 Reapers, all of which are important to the homeland defense mission we share with Canada in NORAD.
“What about the border? Are you getting any pushback from the border – the northern border?" Tuberville asked. "We hear a lot about the southern border, but the northern border is very important. We hear a lot of people are coming, especially terrorists, to the northern border. Have you had any conversations with any of your counterparts there?"
“Senator, I have," Guillot responded. "Although the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security have not requested DOD NORTHCOM support on the northern border, it is something I watch very closely for a number of reasons. One is the potential threats entering our country through the north. And I have frequent discussions with CBP and with the intel community to see if there are any threats that are coming through. And then, of course, it's a shared border with a strong partner like Canada. So, from mil to mil with Canada, we talk about it."
Tuberville pressed on, asking, "So you're getting cooperation?"
The general answered, "[We are] absolutely getting cooperation and keeping a strong sense of situational awareness on the activities of the northern border."
Tuberville thanked both generals for attending the hearing and answering his questions, adding that he wished Congress would have given them more money to protect the border rather than fund Ukraine.
"There's no doubt both of you are so important to the protection of American citizens and our country," he said. "You know, we just voted to give $60 billion to Ukraine. I wish it would have gone to y'all. I'm sure y'all could have used it. I've seen your budgets and your things that you use to work in both NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM and what you do is amazing, but we need to help you. We really do. Thank you very much."
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