North Texas Republicans urge White House for more border troops
11:14 AM Wed, Aug 25, 2010


Members of the Texas GOP delegation are pressing the Obama administration to send more troops to the Texas-Mexico border.

President Obama authorized the deployment of 1,200 additional National Guard troops to the United States' southern border. Of that, 250 troops will be sent to Texas. Gov. Rick Perry had requested 1,000 troops be deployed to Texas.

In a letter last week, the Republican lawmakers sided with Perry in asking for more troops.

"We felt it was important for us to weigh in with the White House and let them know that we supported our governor's request, that the situation is unstable in many areas on the border and that additional help is necessary," said Rep. Michael Burgess of Lewisville, who coordinated the letter.

"The governor's request to the President was a reasonable one," Burgess said in an interview, "and the President's response was less than reasonable."

North Texas Reps. Sam Johnson of Plano, Joe Barton of Arlington, Ralph Hall of Rockwall, Kay Granger of Forth Worth, Kenny Marchant of Coppell and Pete Sessions of Dallas were among those who signed the letter

"Although the response was appreciated, it is woefully inadequate," the letter says. "The small number of troops sent to the border will in no way appropriately address the expanding and violent war that is taking place along the border in our own country."

Critics of the troop increase have said this is a symbolic move, rather than a meaningful solution to illegal immigration.

"No, it's not the final answer by any stretch of the imagination," Burgess said. "It is first aid, but we do have a significant problem on the border and the initial troops are needed to address that."

Letter:
http://burgess.house.gov/UploadedFiles/ ... Troops.pdf

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/ ... rge-w.html