Examining threats at borders and ports of entries, governors in collaboration with the National Guard and US Homeland Security investigations discussing ways to bolster security nationally and locally.

From the rise of fentanyl, illegal entries to cyberattacks, governors and federal partners recently gathering in Washington, DC tackling threats to the homeland. National Guard bureau director of operations Major General Win Burkett said, "Those are indications that the homelands are already under attack. I think everyone in this room has heard that the homeland is no longer a sanctuary. And it isn’t. We experience non-kinetic attacks in the homeland daily across all of our infrastructure."

Guam governor Lou Leon Guerrero shared Guam’s unique issues with increasing illegal entries of Chinese nationals from Saipan, saying, "We have been working with ICE to see how we can expand that role but it’s really a difficult challenge for us because they won’t go to the unaccepted ports of entry, so we’ve had to be creative."

KUAM files show that since 2022, Guam Customs responded to a total of 152 individuals from the People’s Republic of China who violated Guam entry laws. But without border control, Governor Leon Guerrero stated that Guam has had to create a local task force to even make arrests. 

"Because they violated local laws or maritime laws then we hand them over to ICE. Then what happens is, they say they vet them and stuff, they call for asylum, and then they put them out in the island," she explained. "That’s a big issue that I’m trying to work with immigration and ICE to see how we can tighten that up."

The island's magahaga added that cybersecurity is also “a big threat", noting, "As you know, Guam is the second island chain of the defense in the Pacific Indo-PACOM area and we have seen hackers. Cybersecurity is very, very top in our list of priorities for protection."

She asked Burkett if there are more plans to expand cybersecurity capabilities.  "US Cybercom is looking at an initiative right now to increase their capacity and how across the Joint Force, they can meet more of the demands from the commanders across the globe. But as we look at the homeland being the number one priority, that too is an area we are shifting focus at looking at how we can grow with active components with Guard resources," he replied.

Vermont governor Phil Scott admitted that his state faced a critical cyberattack on their largest hospital, saying, "It was devastating for us and we called out the Guard and they came in, it felt like weeks but in a matter of days. They solved it and got us opened back up. But it was life threatening for many. So that’s a real concern."

The conversation highlighting the need for federal resources and collaboration with military partners to fortify defenses, whether at hospitals or borders.