First guard members arrive at MCAS for border effort
FROM STAFF AND AP REPORTS
Jun 3, 2006

Fifty-five National Guard members from Utah arrived in Yuma on Saturday afternoon as the first troops to be sent to the Arizona-Mexico border in a new plan to crack down on illegal immigration.

The Utah troops, sent to assist the U.S. Border Patrol, were originally supposed to work on fences and other projects as part of the Guard’s long-standing efforts at the Arizona border, officials had said as late as Wednesday. But their mission has since been folded into President Bush’s plan to send up to 6,000 National Guard troops to the four southern border states to help federal immigration agents.

The Utah troops got word of the change Friday from Guard officials in Washington, D.C., said Maj. Hank McIntire, a spokesman for the Utah National Guard.

They were scheduled to be briefed on their mission Sunday and start their field work as early as Monday, McIntire said.

"But the thing to keep in mind is that our mission has not changed," McIntire told The Sun. "The only thing that has changed is that we are now part of what is being called Operation Jump Start, which is President Bush's call for troops to help with border activities. It's really not a huge deal."

Under the president’s plan, troops would perform support duties that would free up federal authorities to focus on border security. They wouldn’t perform significant law enforcement duties.

The Utah troops, who will not carry weapons, will be in Yuma for two weeks installing improved lighting at a border crossing site, extending an existing border fence and building a road, McIntire said.

Capt. Tallon Greef, unit commander for the troops, told The Sun that morale was high when troops landed here.

"They are very excited about being here in Arizona," Greef said. "It's much better training for them and much more exciting than what they would be doing back in Utah."

Greef added that the troops are also excited to be part of such a major project that is commanding headlines.

"They are charged up to be part of national affairs, something relevant and something that is helpful to their nation," the unit commander said.

He added with a chuckle: "It's turning out to be a little warm, but we're getting used to it!"

McIntire pointed out that the Utah troops are certainly no strangers to projects involving "high visibility." In addition to serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Utah's National Guard members have served at the military prison on the Guantanamo Bay naval base. They also provided security during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The projects done in Yuma County will center around San Luis, Ariz., which has a fortified stretch of border with Mexico and is part of the nation’s busiest U.S. Border Patrol station.

‘‘We are pleased and excited that this has finally got under way because the request has been in place for so long in Arizona,” said Jeanine L’Ecuyer, spokeswoman for Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Napolitano proposed a similar plan in December, but it remained on the shelf while funding was sought.

Arizona is the nation’s busiest illegal entry point, and illegal immigration is considered the top political issue this year.

Officials say 300 National Guard soldiers from Arizona were expected to begin arriving at the state’s border in mid-June.

About 170 National Guard troops are already helping federal and state officers there with communications, fence construction and anti-drug efforts.

The National Guard has been providing such assistance along the Arizona border for more than 15 years.

Troops from the Utah Guard were deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005 and helped with recovery efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, McIntire said.

Their mission along the border will better prepare them when they are assigned to disaster and war efforts, he said.

Staff writer Darin Fenger contributed to this report. He can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.

http://sun.yumasun.com/artman/publi...story_24638.php