Thread: Leaders Evaluating Use of Troops along Border

Leaders Evaluating Use of Troops along Border




Posted: Jul 16, 2012 6:12 PM Updated: Jul 16, 2012 6:33 PM

WESLACO - Washington leaders are evaluating their decision to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. If you go by the numbers, it looks like having the National Guard on the border has made little impact.

About six percent of all arrests came from their help; guardsmen and women caught less than three percent of drugs. Some say those numbers are misleading, because the guardsmen's job is limited.

"We have to keep in mind that the National Guard is here to do the support on the front lines.... The front lines are going to be the men and women from CBP and Border Patrol," said U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar.

He added we may not be able to fully count the improvement to the border. "Any drugs that they stop, no matter how big or small, is a pound less of marijuana, one pound less of cocaine... that will get into the United States... I would say that it certainly added to the border security."

Some government leaders question their effectiveness. The Government Accountability Office reported, "The temporary use of the National Guard to help secure the border may give rise to additional challenges."

They warned, "The use of out-of-state guardsmen for long-term missions in an involuntary status may have an adverse effect on future National Guard recruitment and retention."

The GAO reported the military unit sent in 2010 provided less support than previous deployments to the border.

Cuellar said, "You have to have the assets. There's a lot of things: cameras, drones. it's a whole approach to the use, instead of saying, ‘Put a fence and put the National Guard and that will take care of everything.'"

This year, many guardsmen were pulled from working on the ground. They're patrolling the skies in airplanes and helicopters. The new efforts aren't measured yet.

We reached out to the local National Guard office about recruitment and morale. We'll let you know when we get a response.

Leaders Evaluating Use of Troops along Border | KRGV.com | CHANNEL 5 NEWS | Breaking News Breaking Stories

Included in their evaluation should be the opinions of border state governors. Ah, jeez, there I go, trying to "keep it simple."