North Dakota National Guard’s 142nd Engineer Battalion welcomed home on Feb. 21, 2026.
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (KFGO) – Fifty members of the North Dakota National Guard’s 142nd Engineer Battalion are back home following a year-long deployment to the nation’s southern border in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The unit returns to North Dakota after providing assistance to CBP operations aimed at stemming illegal immigration, drug smuggling and human trafficking.
The unit’s deployment followed the deployments of the 957th Engineer Company, the 1-112th Aviation Regiment and the 817th Engineer Company to the southern border.
“The members of the 142nd Engineer Battalion have served with professionalism and dedication, helping combat illegal immigration, drug smuggling and human trafficking at our southern border,” said Sen. John Hoeven. “We are grateful for their service and proud to welcome them safely home to North Dakota. Border security is national security, and it’s vital that we do everything we can to protect our country.”
At a welcome home ceremony on Saturday, North Dakota National Guard Adjutant General, Brigadier General Mitchell R. Johnson, Command Sergeant Major Kendall Struxness, and Lt. Col. Ryan Kaufman, Commander of the 142nd Engineer Battalion in Valley City addressed the audience and shared their experience of their deployment along the southern U.S. border.
The 142nd Engineer Battalion’s return marks the latest in a series of NDNG deployments supporting federal efforts at the southern border and reflects North Dakota’s continued commitment to national security.
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