Obama administration extends stay of troops on U.S.-Mexico border

By Jordy Yager - 09/09/11 01:45 PM ET

The Obama administration has extended the deployment of 1,200 National Guard troops stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border until the end of the year.

The Department of Defense (DoD) – at the request of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – approved funding for the National Guard troops, who have been stationed in the southwest border region for more than a year in an effort to ramp up security against drug, gun and money traffickers, as well as illegal immigration.

The leading Republican on border issues in the House heralded the move, which is estimated to cost about $30 million for the next 90 days, though she pushed President Obama to work with Congress to devise a long-term approach to securing the border.

“The decision to extend the National Guard’s deployment along our Southwest border is necessary to curb the illegal activity taking place along the border,â€