Thread: Arizona, Texas Call for More Border Troops

State Officials Say Their Share of a Planned National Guard Deployment Isn't Enough to Curtail Illegal Immigration By PERRY STEIN
Officials in Arizona and Texas are clamoring for more National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border, saying that their share of a planned new deployment won't be enough to make a dent in illegal immigration.

After a meeting Monday with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, officials with the Obama administration announced that Arizona would receive a sizable share of the 1,200 planned new troops, 524. That is more than double the number allocated to any of the other three border states, even though Arizona abuts only about 19% of the U.S.-Mexican border.

By comparison, Texas is set to receive 250 guard troops, even though it has 60% of the 2,000-mile border. California will receive 224 and New Mexico 72, the administration announced. The remaining troops would report to a national liaison office.

Texas and Arizona, both led by Republican governors, immediately complained about their allocations. "Obviously, that is not sufficient to secure the border," said Katherine Cesinger, a spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry. "We're going to continue to urge the federal government to provide the resources we need."

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer expressed similar concern and said that the 524 troops were not what she had hoped she would receive.

Tensions have already been high between Ms. Brewer and the Obama administration after the governor signed a law requiring police who are enforcing other laws to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. The Obama administration has threatened to sue Arizona over the law.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded to complaints from the governors by saying the administration's effort to secure the border has been extraordinary. "The president has made a big commitment to securing the border," he said Tuesday. President Obama is expected to make a speech on immigration laws Thursday.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, struck more conciliatory tones. Mr. Schwarzenegger, in a statement, applauded President Obama for sending the additional troops. However, he too said he would "continue to urge the federal government to provide more National Guard personnel for our border."

Mr. Richardson's office called the Obama administration announcement a good first step.

Texas and Arizona say that crime is high along their borders and there is an imminent need for amped-up security.

The sector of the border that includes Tucson, Ariz., had more arrests of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border than any other sector, with 241,000 in 2009, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The next closest was the San Diego sector with 119,000 arrests. Still, the arrests in the Tucson sector in 2009 were down 36% from 2007.

Federal legislation sponsored by Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, would bring 6,000 National Guard troops to the four border states. Arizona has requested 3,000 of those.

"Those numbers are more in line with what is usually estimated as needed to secure the border," said Fred Burton, a former special agent with the state department and a vice president of intelligence at Stratfor, a global intelligence company.

A similar bill in May failed to garner the necessary 60 votes in the Senate to clear procedural hurdles. This more recent amendment, co-sponsored by Texas's Senate delegation and Jon Kyl of Arizona, all Republicans, was passed out of the Senate Armed Services Committee but the likelihood of passage by the full Senate is unclear.

All states have the authority to call up their own National Guard troops but would have to pay for them at a time when many face extreme budget pressures. If the troops are called up by the president, the cost is borne by federal tax dollars.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... lenews_wsj[/u]

this administration, led by hussein obama has to be one of the least qualified and most incompetent in the recent memory.

Governor To Keep Fighting For More Troops On Border
Federal Gov't Plan For Border Security Not Enough, Brewer Says
Jason Barry
Reporter, KPHO.com

POSTED: 7:06 pm MST June 29, 2010
UPDATED: 8:59 pm MST June 29, 2010

PHOENIX -- Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said Tuesday that she is disappointed by the federal government's plan to send hundreds of National Guard troops to the border.

Brewer said it's not enough and plans to keep fighting to get more.

"The people of Arizona and the people of America understand we are the gateway of illegal activity and drug cartels into America," Brewer said. "No, I am not giving up. We will keep pushing."

The governor met with President Barack Obama on June 3 to discuss border security. On Monday, White House officials were in Arizona to meet with Brewer and discuss ways to slow down illegal immigrant crossings along the U.S. -Mexico border.

Brewer told reporters after Monday's meeting that she was unhappy with what the federal government was proposing.

The governor had requested, 6000 National Guard troops along Southwestern border, $500 million in additional funding for border security, aviation support for ground personnel on the border and an expansion of the current border fence.

According to Brewer, the federal government has approved, 1200 National Guard troops with 524 going to Arizona, at a cost of $135 million.

"The house is on fire and the federal government wants to take a tea cup full of water and throw it on it and say, 'Hey, we've done our part,'" said Mark Spencer with the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association. "It's another step towards failure."

The governor said she is hoping the federal government will eventually follow some of her border security proposals, but said she's still waiting for a response.

"We'd like to know if the administration plans to completely reject it or accept some of those pieces," said Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman. "So far, there hasn't been a specific response back from the written correspondence."

http://www.kpho.com/news/24088966/detail.html