The Governor of Arizona is deploying their National Guard to
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The Governor of Arizona is deploying their National Guard to the Border. http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/40467.html
11:22 am: Arizona governor sending more troops to border to aid immigration efforts
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By PAUL DAVENPORT | Associated Press
March 8, 2006
PHOENIX (AP) - Gov. Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that she signed an executive order to expand the Arizona National Guard's presence at the state's porous border with Mexico to support federal efforts to combat illegal immigration and other border problems.
The Democratic governor also said she would veto a bill in the Republican-led Legislature requiring her to send troops to the border, but wants lawmakers to pass a proposal to pay for the expanded National Guard role.
She said the Legislature's pending bill _ retroactively requiring the governor to deploy additional troops along the border once an immigration emergency was declared _ would be an unconstitutional infringement on her powers as commander in chief of the Arizona National Guard. Last summer, Napolitano had issued such a declaration in four border counties.
Napolitano has previously said that she wants to beef up the guard's presence, but was waiting for federal funding.
Napolitano on Wednesday also said the proposed legislative mandate appeared to be an attempt by critics to score "political points."
She said the order authorizes $500,000 (?419,710) for initial funding for the additional deployment but referred questions about the number of troops and longer-term funding to the National Guard and declined to elaborate on the mission the troops would perform.
She said that was spelled out in the order, which wasn't immediately available.
Napolitano stressed that the National Guard's role would be limited to supporting the federal efforts.
"They are not there to militarize the border," she said. "We are not at war with Mexico."
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Ariz. Governor Orders Troops to Border
Ariz. Governor Orders Troops to Border
Mar 08 7:41 PM US/Eastern
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By JACQUES BILLEAUD
Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX
Gov. Janet Napolitano on Wednesday ordered more National Guardsmen posted at the Mexican border to help stop illegal immigrants and curb related crimes.
National Guard troops have worked at the border since 1988, but Napolitano signed an order authorizing commanders to station an unspecified number of additional soldiers there to help federal agents.
Once the funding is approved, the troops will monitor crossing points, assist with cargo inspection and operate surveillance cameras, according to the order.
"They are not there to militarize the border," the governor said. "We are not at war with Mexico."
About 170 National Guardsmen are already posted at the nation's busiest illegal entry point, where they assist with communications, fence construction and anti-drug efforts.
Napolitano did not say how many additional troops would be stationed at the border and referred questions to the National Guard, which did not immediately return a call.
The Democratic governor proposed sending troops to the border more than two months ago. Her critics in the Republican-led Legislature then introduced a bill requiring her to do so and providing $10 million for the project.
The bill won final approval Wednesday in the House and was headed to the governor, but she promised to veto the measure, saying it infringes on her constitutional powers as commander in chief of the Arizona National Guard.
Napolitano has asked the military to pay for her plan, but said she would commit state dollars if necessary.
The governor declared an immigration emergency last summer in Arizona's four border counties, citing security shortcomings by the federal government.
