Richardson to request continued Guard presence on border
By Ashley Meeks/Sun-News reporter
Article Launched: 04/09/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT



SANTA TERESA — Gov. Bill Richardson will be asking the president to reinstate Operation Jump Start and keep the 284 National Guardsmen on the border for at least another year. He said he would also be requesting emergency legislative funds to hire additional sheriff's deputies in the border counties of Doña Ana, Luna, Grant and Hidalgo.

Fresh from breaking ground on a new border authority complex in Santa Teresa, Richardson made the announcement at a border violence briefing Tuesday evening with Tim Manning, state director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and National Guard Adjutant General Kenny Montoya.

National Guardsmen are currently slated to leave in June. Manning said extending their presence would cost around $2.5 million and that he would probably ask for $2 million to beef up the presence of county deputies. He estimated drug-style executions numbered around 250 in Juárez and 30 in Palomas.

Richardson called the Mexican response to the violence serious and effective.

"The security situation in Palomas has improved, but they would like to see a significant presence remain," Richardson said, saying that the presence of the National Guard had worked to deter illegal border traffic.

"The border violence situation is serious."
The governor said Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan had recently assured him the Mexican army presence would continue until the violence, reportedly among drug cartels battling for corridors into the U.S., was stabilized. Close to 3,000 troops and support personnel have been sent to areas from Juárez to Palomas, with 200 specifically assigned to the latter.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_8857841

Ashley Meeks can be reached at ameeks@lcsun-news.com