March 29, 2010
Texas-Mexico Border: Perry Thanks National Guard

Applauds Texas men & women for service to Texas, the nation

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today thanked the men and women of the Texas National Guard for their sacrifices in protecting our citizens by keeping order both abroad and in the state. The governor spoke at the National Guard Association of Texas (NGAT) Annual Conference, where he underscored the importance of the National Guard to the state’s border security efforts, and reiterated his ongoing requests for additional federal resources to secure the Texas-Mexico Border.

In the absence of adequate federal resources to secure the state’s southern border, the governor has repeatedly urged the federal government, through letters to President Barack Obama, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, to approve his request for 1,000 Title 32 National Guardsmen to support civilian law enforcement efforts to enhance border security in Texas.

Additionally, the governor has a request for predator drones to be based in and operate Texas-Mexico borderover the Texas-Mexico border to provide essential information to law enforcement on the ground.

“America needs additional personnel, technology and intelligence along the entire ,â€