Michael Guest

Mississippi Delegation Applauds Key Field’s Selection as a KC-46 Finalist

Position: The delegation welcomes the Air Force's selection of Key Field in Meridian, Mississippi, as a finalist to host KC-46 refueling aircraft and states that Key Field is the right home for the next generation of air refueling.

Mississippi Delegation Applauds Key Field’s Selection as a KC-46 Finalist Washington – Today, the U.S. Air Force notified Congress that Key Field in Meridian has been selected as one of four preferred locations to be the future home of the new KC-46 aircraft. In response, U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., along with U.S. Congressmen Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., Michael Guest, R-Miss., and Mike Ezell, R-Miss., welcomed this announcement and made the following statement. “We applaud the U.S. Air Force for selecting Key Field Air National Guard Base in Meridian, Mississippi, as a finalist to host the KC-46 refueling aircraft. “Key Field is the home of the 186th Air Refueling Wing, hosting more than 1,000 Airmen and Air Force personnel servicing the KC-135. The 186th is the primary National Guard tanker unit devoted to U.S. military operations in the Middle East—a vital mission for a consequential region of the world. “Meridian presents a strategic location for the KC-46 and is the prime candidate to undertake this mission. The city sits near important refueling tracks, and Mississippi’s vast open spaces enable large-scale exercises. This allows the 186th not only to service fleets flying along local routes but also to support the global refueling mission. Over the past few years, Key Field leadership has invested in the infrastructure upgrades that facilitate this mission. The City of Meridian also has a long record of welcoming service members and meeting the unique needs of military families. “As the Air Force moves into its final evaluations, we will keep making the case that Key Field is the right home for the next generation of air refueling.” Background on the Mississippi Delegation’s Key Field Engagement: The Mississippi delegation has consistently made the case that Key Field is well equipped to host the KC-46 aircraft. This month, the Mississippi delegation sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink in support of Meridian. Over the past few years, Mississippi’s federal officials have supported additional efforts to modernize Key Field infrastructure, paving the way for the installation to continue its contributions toward America’s national security posture. ###

Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Guest Welcome Over $4 Million For Mississippi Telehealth Efforts

Position: The release announces that HHS awarded UMMC $4.25 million for a five-year redesignation as a Telehealth Center of Excellence, funded by Congress, and the legislators express support for telehealth expansion in rural areas.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Congressman Michael Guest, R-Miss., celebrated the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to award the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) $4.25 million for a five-year redesignation as a Center of Excellence in Telehealth. Congress appropriated this funding, which flows through the Telehealth Centers of Excellence program. Wicker, Hyde-Smith, and Guest fought for the funding during the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations cycle. This program is designed for a five-year window, meaning UMMC will be eligible to receive subsequent awards over the next few years. “The University of Mississippi Medical Center has been a pioneer in telehealth care, and they will put this funding to work for Mississippi and the nation,” said Senator Roger Wicker. “Telehealth is a lifeline for rural states like ours. This option bridges healthcare divides, bringing providers to senior citizens, busy parents, or those living far from a clinic.” “As one of two telehealth centers for excellence nationally, UMMC continues to set the pace in expanding telehealth access and its effectiveness as a tool to promote wellness. It’s a pleasure to work with Senator Wicker and Congressman Guest to ensure that federal resources for this good work are maintained,” said Senator Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate appropriations subcommittee that funds HHS. “UMMC has long been a national leader in telehealth. I am proud to represent UMMC in the U.S. House and to advocate for this Telehealth Centers of Excellence program funding. UMMC’s telehealth program will continue to be of great service to Mississippians and serve as a national model, and I am looking forward to the continued research, innovation, and patient-centered care UMMC will provide,” said Congressman Michael Guest. “We greatly appreciate the ongoing investment in UMMC’s telehealth initiatives that extends our ability to provide high-quality health care to rural and medically underserved areas of our state. Telehealth allows us to monitor patients in rural hospitals, to assist patients with chronic conditions and to help students in need of mental health services,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Background on the Telehealth Centers of Excellence Program: The Telehealth Centers of Excellence program supports academic medical centers, like UMMC, as they work to expand telehealth services to rural communities and improve patient outcomes. This funding will help researchers collect data, enhance studies, and provide telehealth training to professionals. UMMC is one of two federally recognized Telehealth Centers of Excellence in the country. As such, UMMC will serve as a model that medical institutions across the nation can look to as they work to implement telehealth solutions in their states. UMMC’s commitment to telehealth services has made Mississippi a leader in this emerging health care delivery option. ###

HYDE-SMITH, GUEST ANNOUNCE $2.4 MILLION GRANT LINKED TO UMMC CANCER CENTER

Position: Senator Hyde-Smith and Representative Guest announced a $2.4 million FY2026 federal grant to renovate and equip research space at UMMC, supporting the institution's goal of National Cancer Institute designation.

Miss. Lawmakers Secured NIST Funding in FY2026 Appropriations to Renovate & Equip Research Space WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and U.S. Representative Michael Guest (R-Miss.) today announced the award of a $2.4 million federal grant to rehabilitate research space at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) as part of the research hospital’s long-term goal of being designated a National Cancer Institute (NCI). Hyde-Smith and Guest, who serve on the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, respectively, secured the FY2026 funding through the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The funding will be used to support the renovation and equipping of approximately 14,000 square feet of space in the UMMC Research Wing. “Upgrading this space at UMMC is just one more step toward creating a facility that will draw more cancer researchers to our state. The world-class work done there, along with the planned UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute, is part of our goal to get that critical NCI designation, and I’m pleased to help reach these worthy goals,” Hyde-Smith said. “The University of Mississippi Medical Center has been a national leader in medicine since it hosted the first heart transplant in 1964. Now, UMMC is taking a critical step in attaining its federal designation as a National Cancer Institute. I am proud to serve UMMC through my work in Congress and will continue to support the institution’s legacy of excellence and its efforts to supercharge cancer research, deliver better health outcomes, and ultimately find a cure,” Guest said. The project will update research space that has not been renovated in nearly 30 years. The planned improvements will help expand and modernize the UMMC cancer research program. Serving on the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Hyde-Smith has consistently sought support from successive administrations to gain an NCI designation for UMMC, including at a May hearing to review the National Institutes of Health budget request. Currently, there is no NCI-designated cancer center in Mississippi, Louisiana, or Arkansas, which often requires patients in these states to travel significant distances for advanced cancer care. ###

Miss. Delegation Urges Trump to Approve Major Disaster Declaration for Mississippi

Position: The Mississippi congressional delegation urges the President to approve Governor Tate Reeves' request for a major disaster declaration following June 2026 storms and flooding, which would unlock federal recovery resources for eight counties.

WASHINGTON – The Mississippi congressional delegation today shared its strong support for Governor Tate Reeves’ request for a major disaster declaration after severe storms, tornadoes, and flash flooding struck on June 18-19, 2026. Remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur brought 30 inches of rain onto the state within a five-day period, damaging homes, businesses, farms, and infrastructure. U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., Michael Guest, R-Miss., and Mike Ezell, R-Miss., sent President Trump a letter endorsing the governor’s request for a major disaster declaration. The eight counties included in the request for public assistance are Covington, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, Stone, and Wayne. Of the eight, the state is requesting individual assistance for the following four counties: Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, and Stone. If approved, the major disaster declaration would unlock additional federal resources to supplement state recovery efforts. This request could be amended if any additional damage is discovered or reported. “This extraordinary volume of rainfall triggered life-threatening flash flooding, threatened the integrity of earthen dams, and pushed multiple river basins into major flood stage,” the lawmakers wrote. “We have seen firsthand the critical role federal disaster assistance plays in helping our communities recover from devastating events.”

Miss. Delegation Urges Trump to Approve Major Disaster Declaration for Mississippi

Position: The Mississippi congressional delegation urges the President to approve Governor Tate Reeves' request for an expedited major disaster declaration, providing Individual and Public Assistance, for five counties affected by May 6-7, 2026 tornadoes and severe weather.

WASHINGTON – The Mississippi congressional delegation today shared its strong support for Governor Tate Reeves’ request for a major disaster declaration after devastating tornadoes and severe weather struck the state on May 6-7, 2026. U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and U.S. Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., Trent Kelly, R-Miss., Michael Guest, R-Miss., and Mike Ezell, R-Miss., sent President Trump a letter endorsing the governor’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration for Lamar, Lincoln, Franklin, Lawrence, and Wilkinson counties for individual assistance and public assistance. If approved, the major disaster declaration would unlock additional federal resources to supplement state recovery efforts. “Several of the tornadoes caused catastrophic damage, including an EF3 tornado that, at times, exceeded a mile in width and remained on the ground for nearly 70 miles. The storms destroyed and severely damaged many homes and businesses, uprooted trees, crippled critical infrastructure, and caused widespread power outages affecting thousands of Mississippians,” the lawmakers wrote. “Communities across the impacted region continue to face significant recovery challenges in the aftermath of these storms. Read the full letter below. Dear President Trump, We respectfully write to urge your full and timely consideration of Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves’ request for a Major Disaster Declaration following recent devastating tornadoes and severe weather in our state. We remain deeply grateful for the continued partnership and support provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in response to prior disasters, and we appreciate the agency’s ongoing coordination with state and local officials as damage assessments continue. On the evening of May 6, 2026, and early morning of May 7, 2026, multiple Mississippi counties experienced destructive weather conditions, including supercell thunderstorms that produced at least seven confirmed tornadoes across portions of the state. Several of the tornadoes caused catastrophic damage, including an EF3 tornado that, at times, exceeded a mile in width and remained on the ground for nearly 70 miles. The storms destroyed and severely damaged many homes and businesses, uprooted trees, crippled critical infrastructure, and caused widespread power outages affecting thousands of Mississippians. Communities across the impacted region continue to face significant recovery challenges in the aftermath of these storms. Governor Reeves’ request includes both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for Lamar, Lincoln, Franklin, Lawrence, and Wilkinson counties. The magnitude of the destruction has placed extraordinary strain on state and local resources, and the capabilities of volunteer and charitable organizations alone will not be sufficient to meet the long-term recovery needs of affected communities. Federal assistance will be critical to support the recovery of these communities. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need further assistance in this effort.

Congressman Michael Guest on the Passage of H.R. 4071, the Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025

Congressman Michael Guest on the Passage of H.R. 4071, the Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025 Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4071, the Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations agents play a critical role in the homeland security mission. Every day, AMO agents conduct border operations to detect and disrupt the illegal flow of people, narcotics, and other dangerous or illicit contraband before it reaches our shores. This legislation authorizes AMO, and other designated CBP personnel, to continue and expand these successful bilateral agreements by providing training, building partner-nation capacity, and conducting joint operations that will increase interdictions and enhance regional security to save lives, strengthen our defenses, and make our nation safer. Joined by Representative Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Congressman Guest gained bipartisan supporters on this legislation which passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino expressed his support for the bill, stating, “As Air and Marine Operations carries out its border security mission, Congressman Guest’s legislation would help ensure these brave men and women have the necessary international partnerships to combat drug and human smuggling before this criminal activity ever makes its way to our borders. I was proud to help advance this legislation through the House Homeland Security Committee and through the House of Representatives, and I urge my Senate colleagues to do the same to help CBP in its important mission.” Congressman Guest stated, “I am honored to have introduced H.R. 4071 and to see it be approved in the House. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and send it to the President’s desk. We will continue to work to secure our border and Make America Great Again.” Co-Sponsor Congresswoman Pou stated, “Drug trafficking and human smuggling remain grave problems facing our nation. Our bipartisan bill will provide vital clarity to Customs and Border Protection and our foreign partners to crack down on these scourges. I thank Congressman Guest for leading this effort that will help keep Americans safe and protected.” With the passage of H.R. 4071, the Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025, Congressman Guest is thankful to see bipartisan bills pass through the House Chamber that will strengthen our border security. Read a copy of the bill here. Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Currently serving his fourth term, Congressman Guest is the Chairman of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security and is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee. ### Issues:Congress

Congressman Guest Talks Government Shutdown, ACA Subsidies, and Charlie Kirk

Position: Congressman Guest opposes making enhanced ACA subsidies permanent without income limits, arguing the $500 billion cost is unjustified and that 35% of current subsidies go to families earning over $100,000. He characterizes the Democratic shutdown demand as politically motivated rather than policy-driven.

Washington, D.C. – Recently, Congressman Guest joined the Tim Young Show to discuss the Democrats’ government shutdown. Here are some key things that Congressman Guest noted in his interview: Congressman Guest and his staff are still working: “My staff has all been deemed essential and we’re working and serving the people of our district. I will tell you, before I came on today, I got to meet a guy by the name of Billy Byrd. Billy is a 100 year old World War II Veteran. He came in my office and gave me a copy of a book he had written. He was actually on the first wave of Marines that invaded Iwo Jima. He was on the island for 32 days fighting the Japanese, so got a chance got meet with a war hero. Somebody who fought for our country, somebody who served, served in combat – part of that greatest generation. While I am not in D.C. working, I am still here in the district, and I am getting to spend, at least today, some time with two great Americans.” The shutdown is over ACA Subsidies and the political playground of Democrats: “This is clearly a political shutdown. This is not over policy. The Democrats have tried to make it over policy particularly the expanding the Obamacare enhanced subsidies that will expire at the end of the year. These are policies that the Democrats put in place. These are things in which the Democrats set when these expiration dates would occur. These were supposed to be temporary in light of COVID. Now, we see that they want to make these permanent. The cost of that would be over $500 billion and so the Democrats are asking for $500 billion in new funding to keep the government open for a mere 7 weeks. You’re right, some of the healthcare they’re talking about would go to illegal aliens. And so, this is not a shutdown where they have a key issue that they really disagree with. They are just throwing a bunch of things at the wall hoping that they can make something stick. And some of it, I think much of it, is driven by Chuck Schumer and his fear of a very popular Democratic member in his district. She may not be popular in my district, but she is popular in New York- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was threatening to primary Chuck Schumer for his U.S. Senate seat.” The shutdown is over ACA Subsidies: “If the issue of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies is worth shutting the government down, which is what Chuck Schumer has told us, then our Republican leadership has said we’re willing to have a conversation with you about that. But what we want to do is we want to know a couple of things. We want to put some income limits on that because right now what most people don’t know is that 35% of those enhanced Obamacare subsidies go to families making more than $100,000. So, Democrats want you to believe that this is a program for those people who are in poverty or at the poverty limit. That’s not the case. 35% of those subsidies go to people or families making $100,000 or more. So, we need income limits. We need to put safeguards in place to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. And again, if this is something that is so important that the Democrats are willing to shut down the government, tell me how you are going to pay for it. That’s what we need. If we are going to put government programs in place, how are we going to pay for those programs? Don’t say we are going to add half a trillion dollars to our national debt. We’ve done that for far too long. If this is a program and a hill worth dying on from the Democrats, tell me what programs you’re willing to cut to have for that.” Some Democrats have refused to condemn violence: “The recent resolution in light of Charlie Kirk’s passing. The number of Democrats that refused to support that. It was a resolution that did two things. One, it talked about some of the major accomplishments that Charlie had given to our country, but the second is that it condemned political violence. We have Democrats, more than half of the Democrats, either voted against it or didn’t vote for the resolution at all. Which is in stark contrast to every Republican who voted to condemn violence in light of the state representatives and state senators in Minnesota who were killed. So, it kind of goes to show that Democrats are great about talking about bringing down the temperature but when it actually comes to voting for that, they’re not willing to put their money where their mouth is.” Congressman Guest continues to work hard and keep his office open during this time. Tune into the entire interview here. Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Currently serving his fourth term, Congressman Guest is the Chairman of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security and is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Issues:CongressHealth

Chairman Guest Opens Hearing on How NGOs Fueled the Border Crisis: “Tax Dollars Were Used to Form the Final Link in Cartels’ Human Smuggling”

Position: The release argues that the Biden-Harris administration's immigration enforcement policies were inadequate and that federal funding to NGOs facilitated illegal border crossings and the processing of undocumented immigrants. The speaker contends that NGOs receiving federal grants undermined immigration law enforcement.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS), chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement, delivered the following opening statement in a full committee hearing to examine how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) helped facilitate and benefited from the historic Biden-Harris border crisis, as well as how far-left NGOs are still working to help inadmissible aliens undermine federal immigration law under the Trump administration. Watch Subcommittee Chairman Guest's full opening statement in a hearing entitled, “An Inside Job: How NGOs Facilitated the Biden Border Crisis.” As prepared for delivery: For four years, the Biden-Harris administration created the worst border crisis in American history. From day one, Biden, Harris, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas implemented a policy of mass catch-and-release, dismantled effective border-security policies, and gutted interior enforcement. As a result, roughly 13 million inadmissible aliens were either encountered at our borders or entered as gotaways. The consequences have been devastating. Thousands of Americans were lost to fentanyl poisonings. Gang members wreaked havoc in local communities. Young women like Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, and Rachel Morin were raped, abused, and murdered by illegal aliens. This committee led the way in impeaching Secretary Mayorkas for his willful and systemic refusal to enforce longstanding immigration laws—laws passed and amended over the years by bipartisan majorities in Congress. The American people also emphatically rejected the open-borders policies at the ballot box last November. What is not known by many, and what will be highlighted today at this hearing, is that the Biden-Harris administration could not execute an open borders policy on its own. They needed help, and that help came from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) funded by the federal government. These groups that received billions in taxpayer funding would prove instrumental in helping the Biden-Harris administration process and release a historic number of illegal aliens into our communities. Under a DHS program called the Emergency Food and Shelter Humanitarian Program (EFSP-H), which later became the Shelter and Services Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided grants to numerous NGOs, many of whom were operating at the Southwest border. These groups spent billions of taxpayer dollars given to them by the Biden and Harris administration to provide all manner of benefits to illegal aliens “recently released from DHS custody,” according to the department. Our taxpayer dollars were spent on purchasing tens of thousands of nights in hotel rooms for illegal aliens, instead of using existing ICE detention facilities to house those detained individuals. The Biden-Harris Administration sent taxpayer dollars to NGOs to put them in hotels at the cost of hundreds of dollars per night, often without any ICE supervision. Even worse, our tax dollars were used to form the final link in the cartels’ human smuggling operation, paying to help illegal aliens travel to their preferred destination—Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and other destinations of choice. Jason Owens, then-chief of the Border Patrol’s Del Rio Sector, told us in an official interview, “ICE would then turn [illegal aliens] over to NGOs for them to travel to wherever they were going to go while they await their hearing.” Recent studies have shown that illegal aliens who passed through the doors of these NGOs at the border ended up in effectively every congressional district in this country. Many of the NGOs served as a launching pad for mass illegal immigration. The abuse was so widespread that even the Biden-Harris administration and the NGOs couldn’t deny what was happening. In June 2022, one DHS official said the department “will continue to closely coordinate with and support…NGOs to facilitate the movement of any individual encountered at the Southwest border…” John Martin with the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, an NGO in El Paso, said that his organization works with illegal aliens to “facilitate travel to the destination of their choice.” These actions appear to constitute a violation of Section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which prohibits any individual from encouraging or inducing someone to enter the country unlawfully, or helping transport them in the interior. Corruption and waste were rampant in the spending by NGOs. Under Biden and Harris, DHS’s top watchdog audited millions of dollars that had gone to local grant recipients over a six-month period in 2021. They found that a lack of proper documentation kept them from determining how more than half of that money had been spent. In some cases, they discovered that funds had been used to pay for benefits for individuals who were legally ineligible to receive them. The Biden border crisis proved to be a profitable business model for NGOs. According to the Free Press, three large NGOs involved in handling unaccompanied alien children—Global Refuge who received 85 percent of its revenue from government grants, Endeavors who received 97 percent of its funding from government grants and Southwest Key Programs who received an astonishing 99 percent of its revenue from government funding — these three groups saw “their combined revenue grow to an astonishing $2 billion by 2022.” They had a vested interest in prolonging the crisis. One NGO, Southwest Key Programs, used the increase in government funding to raise salaries of officers across the board, including an over $675,000 salary increase for their CEO, according to media reporting. Many NGOs tried to mislead the public in how these funds were being allocated, as documented by a recent Florida grand jury investigation, “actively obstructed” efforts to determine how they were spending federal dollars. The grand jury also noted that some NGOs received the vast majority of their funding from federal grants—pretty interesting for groups calling themselves “non-governmental organizations.” The American people are tired of being told that we should fund the actions of those breaking our laws. They are tired of groups encouraging people to cross the border illegally, and organizations that facilitate the release of illegal aliens into the interior. When would-be border crossers know that a host of benefits awaits them immediately after crossing the border, they are more likely to make the deadly journey. That’s exactly what happened on Biden and Harris’s watch as millions of vulnerable people put themselves in the hands of the cartels and smuggling groups. An untold number perished along the route. Tens of thousands more suffered physical and sexual assault on the way, and many are still trapped paying off their cartel debts through forced labor or working in the sex trade. We can and should look for ways to care for the vulnerable and less fortunate. But using taxpayer dollars to undermine our laws and the well-being of Americans and migrants alike is not the way to do it. We cannot let taxpayer dollars be used to facilitate lawbreaking. Shining a light on this disgrace is the first step in accountability. This can never happen again. ###

Congressman Guest Hosts Staff Retreat in Meridian for his Washington, D.C., and Mississippi Staff

Meridian, MS - Congressman Michael Guest and his staff hosted a staff development retreat in Meridian on Wednesday, November 6th. Staff from his Mississippi and Washington, D.C., offices were in the Queen City to learn more about Meridian and Lauderdale County priorities. While in Meridian, the team met with the Riley Foundation, Mississippi State University administration, leadership of the 185th Aviation Brigade and 186th Air Refueling Wing of the Mississippi National Guard, leadership of Naval Air Station Meridian, Mayor Jimmie Smith, and other community leaders. Congressman Guest’s highest military priority is to bring the KC-46 aircraft to Meridian. Earlier in the week, the staff was traveling across Mississippi’s Third Congressional District to Starkville, Brandon, Magee, Brookhaven, Tylertown, and Meridian. The goals of these sessions were to meet with community leaders and discuss local priorities and the federal appropriations process. “I am honored to have dedicated staff who love Mississippi and work hard every day to make Mississippi a great place to live, worship, and raise a family. I am honored to represent Meridian, Lauderdale County, and the entire Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Making my staff and myself available in our communities will continue to be a high priority,” said Congressman Guest. Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security. ###

Congressman Michael Guest on the Introduction of the Early Migration Alert Program (EMAP) Act

Position: Congressman Guest introduced legislation requiring ICE and CBP to notify state and local authorities at least 24 hours before releasing migrants into their jurisdictions, providing information on migrant numbers, criminal histories, and destinations to improve coordination and community preparedness.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael Guest, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Early Migration Alert Program (EMAP) Act to require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to notify state and local law enforcement agencies and government authorities of an impending release of migrants into their jurisdictions. “The Biden – Harris Administration has been releasing migrants into local communities without warning. The lack of communication can overwhelm law enforcement agents and public servants. As we continue to deal with a crisis on our border, an alert system like the one EMAP would establish is imperative,” said Congressman Guest. The EMAP Act would fill the communication gap by requiring ICE and CBP to develop an alert system where State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial government authorities can receive information regarding the impending release of migrants. EMAP is designed to protect the identities of such persons and to alleviate privacy concerns from state and local government officials. Early notification to State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial municipalities would assist local communities in preparing for the arrival of migrants. The EMAP Act would require ICE and CBP to create an email subscription system to alert authorities and provide information regarding the impending release of migrants into local communities, including the: Number of migrants to be released Number of migrants with known criminal histories Initial destination of the migrants Final destinations and where they intend to settle The legislation would require ICE and CBP to give municipalities at least a 24-hour notice before releasing an alien into the United States. Given that migrants in ICE custody are released by court order, ICE does not have the ability to control when and where migrants are released. However, ICE and CBP are best positioned to provide advance notice to State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial municipalities. EMAP allows better communication across local, state, territorial, and federal officials. “Ensuring the safety and security of our communities starts with better coordination and transparency,” Ezell said. “The Early Migration Alert Program (EMAP) will provide real-time information sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to respond more effectively. This bill will equip law enforcement with timely and comprehensive data, enabling them to proactively address public safety concerns and ensure better coordination in responding to illegal immigration activity. I’m proud to join Reps. Guest, D’Esposito, and Higgins on this vital legislation to help address the border crisis that continues to plague every state – not just border states.” “The Biden-Harris administration’s self-inflicted border crisis has left every state vulnerable,” said Congressman Higgins. “Over the course of the past four years, every state has become a border state. This invasion has put unnecessary strains on state and local law enforcement across the nation. This common-sense legislation establishes better communication channels for ICE and CBP to alert state and local law enforcement of the impending arrival of illegal aliens. I’m honored to join my colleague Congressman Guest on this critical legislation.” “Because of the Biden-Harris Administration, every state is a border state,” Guest continued. “The strain of the border crisis is felt across America in local towns and cities that are often unprepared for an influx of migrants in their communities. The strain has been felt in my district in Mississippi, and I’ve talked to both federal, state, and local lawmakers across the country who have seen the same problems in their communities. We cannot allow this to continue. This legislation would establish better communication channels between local and federal officials so that communities across our nation know who is coming and when they will arrive.” Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his third term, Congressman Guest serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security.