San Diego, CA -- The California National Guard, which has gradually put 900 troops near the Mexican border, says 700 of them have finished training, or nearly finished, freeing more Border Patrol officers to perform enforcement duty.

A spokesman says the number of troops should grow to 1,100 next week.

During Wednesday's media day, dozens of reporters and photographers gathered at a rugged area known as "Whiskey Eight" to watch bulldozers smooth a patch of dirt to make room for trucks and building materials to be used for constructing fences and improving roads and drainage.

A few miles away, at a perch known as "Arnie's Point," troops demonstrated a Border Patrol infrared camera that Guardsmen will use to spot illegal border crossers up to five miles away.