U.S. Troops to Arrive at U.S.-Mexico Border Aug. 1
- 14 years ago
U.S. officials announce that the 1,200 National Guard troops pledged weeks ago by President Barack Obama will deploy to the southwest border starting August 1st.
On Monday, Obama administration officials say that, starting August 1, the U.S. will deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to assist with border protection, following up on a pledge by President Barack Obama in May.
Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, Alan Bersin, says the troops will support the work of Department of Homeland Security personnel already operating on the border.
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He added that the deployment will coincide with additional surveillance technology.
President Obama made the announcement about the Guard deployment after increased concerns were raised about border violence, stemming from illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
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General McKinley says the full force of the National Guard should be stationed in the four U.S. border states by September.
According to the Obama administration, nearly half of the troops will be sent to the volatile Arizona-Mexico border.
Then a total of 524 will be stationed in Arizona, 250 in Texas, 224 in California and 72 in New Mexico.
Another 130 troops will serve in "command-and-control" and other support positions.
Once quiet northern industrial border cities, such as Torreon, have seen a surge in drug related killings in the past six months, as the cartels fight over control of the smuggling routes into Texas.
More than 26,000 people have been killed in drug violence across Mexico since President Felipe Calderon took office and started a crackdown on drug cartels in 2006.
The escalating violence is worrying Washington and investors in the oil-producing country, once known as a politically stable neighbor to the United States.
On Monday, Obama administration officials say that, starting August 1, the U.S. will deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to assist with border protection, following up on a pledge by President Barack Obama in May.
Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, Alan Bersin, says the troops will support the work of Department of Homeland Security personnel already operating on the border.
[...]
He added that the deployment will coincide with additional surveillance technology.
President Obama made the announcement about the Guard deployment after increased concerns were raised about border violence, stemming from illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
[...]
[...]
General McKinley says the full force of the National Guard should be stationed in the four U.S. border states by September.
According to the Obama administration, nearly half of the troops will be sent to the volatile Arizona-Mexico border.
Then a total of 524 will be stationed in Arizona, 250 in Texas, 224 in California and 72 in New Mexico.
Another 130 troops will serve in "command-and-control" and other support positions.
Once quiet northern industrial border cities, such as Torreon, have seen a surge in drug related killings in the past six months, as the cartels fight over control of the smuggling routes into Texas.
More than 26,000 people have been killed in drug violence across Mexico since President Felipe Calderon took office and started a crackdown on drug cartels in 2006.
The escalating violence is worrying Washington and investors in the oil-producing country, once known as a politically stable neighbor to the United States.