3 western governors ask Congress to extend Guard's stay

Associated Press - April 22, 2008 7:25 PM ET

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - The governors of Arizona, California and New Mexico have written congressional leaders urging that Congress extend and fully fund the National Guard's stay along the Mexican border.

Govs. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Bill Richardson of New Mexico say they're "concerned that prematurely ending the highly successful Operation Jump Start could reverse the success of this mission."

They say the National Guard's presence has helped reduce the number of illegal crossings and increased the number of arrests for illegal activity, including people- and drug-smuggling.

National Guard soldiers began supplementing the Border Patrol in non-enforcement activities along the southwestern border in the summer of 2006.

Their involvement is scheduled to end by mid-July.

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