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News: Santa Fe / NM



In brief, 05/31/2006
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By THE NEW MEXICAN
May 31, 2006

New Mexico National Guard prepares for border duty

New Mexico National Guard members are expected to start assisting the Border Patrol by mid-June, Guard spokeswoman Lt. Col. Kimberly Lalley said Wednesday.

Lalley said the deployment had been in the works several months before President Bush's announcement two weeks ago that as many as 6,000 guardsmen would be sent to the border in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and California.

The New Mexico National Guard has set up a joint task force at its headquarters in Santa Fe to "provide command control and support throughout the operation," a Guard news release says. The task force, established by Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, will involve as many as 50 people, Lalley said. The news release also says the National Guard will act as a "temporary bridge until civilian law enforcement can increase its own capabilities." The Guard will perform its border mission "under the command and control of Gov. Bill Richardson," the release says.