Arizona troops to begin heading to state's border on Thursday
Full Description:
Arizona troops to begin heading to state's border on Thursday
PHOENIX (AP) -- One hundred fifty Arizona National Guard troops will begin arriving at the state's border with Mexico as early as Thursday under President Bush's plan to free up immigration agents, officials said.
The troops will mark the first wave of Arizona troops to work under Bush's plan, though 55 National Guard members from Utah have worked for a week in San Luis, a border town that is part of the busiest Border Patrol station in the country.
Another 150 Arizona troops will join them by the month's end, said Paul Aguirre, a spokesman for the Arizona National Guard.
The first wave of Arizona troops, who volunteered for the duty, prepared for their assignments Tuesday in Phoenix by completing paperwork.
"Thank you for taking time from your families and work," Gov. Janet Napolitano told the troops in a conference call. "We need your help."
Two high-ranking federal officials were scheduled to visit the Utah troops in the Yuma area on Tuesday.
Paul McHale, assistant defense secretary for Homeland Defense, and Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, will learn about the troops' missions and discuss border protection efforts.
Bush's plan calls for up to 6,000 troops to be stationed on the border in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Troops would perform support duties that would free up federal authorities to focus on border security. They wouldn't perform significant law enforcement duties.
The Arizona troops will perform monitor remote cameras, operate communications equipment and provide administrative support, Aguirre said.
"I would like to see the border patrol be able to do their job and achieve border security." said Pfc. Desi Hermosillo, who is among the first Arizona Guard members set for border duty under the plan.
The Utah troops are working to extend a 6.9-mile border fence, improve a road and install lighting.
