Could the U.S. National Guard Become Like Mexico’s

 Could the U.S. National Guard Become Like Mexico’s?

⚠️ The Risks of Militarizing Domestic Policing

In recent days, President Trump has ordered troops into Portland, Oregon, and extended deployments of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. Local leaders in Oregon insist that Portland is not “war-ravaged” and that no mission exists for federal troops. Yet the order was given, and the question lingers: what happens if the Guard becomes a permanent domestic security force?

This worry isn’t just hypothetical. We only need to look south—to Mexico’s National Guard—to see how the story can unfold.

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Mexico’s Experience: A Cautionary Tale 🇲🇽

Mexico’s National Guard was created with the promise of combating drug cartels and restoring peace. Instead, several troubling patterns emerged:

• Corruption & infiltration: Organized crime groups successfully bribed or intimidated officers, pulling entire units into cartel influence.
• Secrecy & impunity: Military institutions are harder to scrutinize than civilian police. Abuses—including disappearances and extrajudicial killings—often went unpunished.
• Mission creep: What began as targeted anti-crime operations evolved into a militarized presence in everyday policing, from traffic stops to protest crackdowns.
• Erosion of democracy: Civilian police reforms stalled, leaving security increasingly dependent on the military.

The result? Trust in law enforcement collapsed further, and the cycle of violence deepened.

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The U.S. National Guard: Headed the Same Way? 🇺🇸

Traditionally, the National Guard operates under state control, stepping in during natural disasters, emergencies, or short-term crises. But under Trump, we’ve seen:

• Federalization of D.C.’s police and ongoing Guard deployment in the capital.
• Threats to send troops into Portland and other cities against the wishes of local leaders.
• Talk of “domestic terrorists” and “war-ravaged” cities to justify expanded use of military power at home.

If these deployments shift from temporary measures to long-term policing, several risks appear:

• Corruption: Just like in Mexico, prolonged policing duties create openings for infiltration by organized crime or powerful interest groups.
• Loss of accountability: Once federalized, Guard units are harder for states and local communities to oversee.
• Political misuse: Troops could be selectively deployed against political opponents or protest movements.
• Public distrust: Soldiers are trained for combat, not community policing. Their presence in neighborhoods erodes the trust that public safety depends on.

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Why This Matters

History shows that when soldiers replace civilian police, corruption, abuse, and authoritarian control can follow. The Posse Comitatus Act was designed to prevent military forces from acting as domestic police—but exceptions, like the Insurrection Act, are already being tested.

The lesson from Mexico is clear: once a country normalizes military policing, it’s nearly impossible to turn back.

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Final Thoughts

What’s happening in Oregon and Washington, D.C., is not just about “protecting federal buildings.” It’s about the direction of democracy itself.

Do we want a future where the Guard is seen as a neutral emergency force—or one where it becomes a politicized, corrupt, and feared presence in our own streets?

The answer depends on how much we pay attention now, and how loudly we demand civilian oversight, transparency, and restraint.

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👉 What do you think? Could the U.S. be sliding toward the same mistakes Mexico made, or are the legal safeguards strong enough to prevent it?