Wicker: Promotes Coast Guard’s border security mission

Note: The following is the weekly Wicker Report.” written by U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and provided by his officer. Any opinions expressed are that of thed writer and not necessarily that of this publication.

By U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

U.S. Should Equip Guard Today

The Biden-Harris administration’s refusal to enforce the law has created chaos along our border with Mexico. With the attention on that 2,000 mile stretch of land, many have overlooked a massive spike in illegal migration also hitting our coastal border. The U.S. Coast Guard, which enforces our maritime migration laws, has had to divert resources away from its other missions to handle this influx.

The Coast Guard began when Alexander Hamilton envisioned a fleet to enforce American tariff and smuggling laws. It has continued that role – securing the maritime trade and shipping that powers our state, nation, and world. It has taken on other duties as well. The Coast Guard has been granted unique authorities that enable it to act both diplomatically and militarily, allowing it to perform a variety of functions for our armed forces. For example, in some Pacific island nations, the Coast Guard has been able to counter Chinese influence by conducting port calls where other American ships would not be welcome.

Coast Guard Contends with Chinese and Russian Arctic Ambitions

The Coast Guard is also our country’s top law enforcement presence in the Arctic. Recently, it has been on the front line as our adversaries make advances in the region.

This year, the China Coast Guard has joined the Russian Border Guard in a series of joint military exercises. Together, they sailed into the Arctic Ocean near American waters. This is just the latest show of force from the two nations. In the skies near Alaska, Russia has flown its jets dangerously close to ours, and China has sent several icebreakers to the Arctic.

With these and other actions, the dictators in Beijing and Moscow foreshadow plans to seize control over that part of the world. Each hopes to unlock new trade, military, resource exploitation, and research opportunities.

China and Russia have the hardware to back up their ambitions, but our Coast Guard is under resourced. Vladimir Putin’s fleet of polar icebreakers outnumbers our own, 36 to two. Even worse, both of our vessels are aging, and one is continually plagued by maintenance challenges.

Border Crisis Diverts Coast Guard Resources

The United States needs the Coast Guard focused on this rising threat in the Arctic. But since 2021, illegal migration by sea has skyrocketed. The Coast Guard has been forced to divert personnel, vessels, and aircraft to the Biden-Harris administration’s self-inflicted maritime border crisis. In 2024, the Coast Guard has stopped illegal migrants and returned them to places such as Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Many of these migrants travel on makeshift vessels unsuited for the journey, making the Coast Guard’s work a dual law enforcement and humanitarian mission.

These repatriation and humanitarian operations are core parts of the Coast Guard’s duties. But it should not be compelled to handle them in such high quantities.

Mississippi Supports the Coast Guard

In light of the ongoing border crisis and the rising threats from our foes, we must move quickly to support the Coast Guard. Mississippians have been stepping up to give these service members what they need. This spring, I toured several shipyards along our coast and received updates on efforts to build new Coast Guard vessels. Every single National Security Cutter the Coast Guard operates was built in Mississippi, and we are currently building the newest polar icebreaker, too.

I am heartened by this work. In Congress, I will continue supporting the Coast Guard as it pursues missions along and beyond our maritime borders.