6,000-plus Guard troops in border states - though only about half are on duty along the border

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/31/06 | Elliot Spagat - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SAN DIEGO - More than 6,000 National Guard troops have been assigned to southwestern border states by the government's Aug. 1 deadline — though only about half of them are on duty along the border, the Guard said Monday.

Guard officials said 6,199 troops were somewhere in the four southwestern border states, with many still in training. Col. Mark Allen, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau, said 2,000 to 3,000 were on the border, most searching for illegal activity.

The Guard never intended to have 6,000 troops "with their toes on the border," said Col. Mark Allen, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau. The number will fluctuate depending on Border Patrol requests, he said.

Bush's plan for curbing illegal immigration, announced in May, called for as many as 6,000 troops on the border. The Guard said they would be there by Aug. 1.

California has assigned more than 1,200 troops, Guard spokesman Maj. Dan Markert said Monday. About half will be at the border looking for illegal activity; the other half will be in support roles ranging from plumbers to office workers.

Most of the troops in Arizona are working at Border Patrol stations doing such jobs as communications and administrative support and vehicle repairs, Maj. Paul Aguirre said. Some are assigned to military bases to receive incoming troops.

In New Mexico, troops are helping spot illegal immigrants, building vehicle barriers and working in office positions, Agent Patrick Berry said. Soldiers near El Paso, Texas, were doing video surveillance and tending to horses, Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said.

The Border Patrol credits the Guard with helping arrest 2,296 illegal immigrants, and seizing 14,496 pounds of marijuana and 200 pounds of cocaine, said patrol spokesman Mario Martinez.

Last week, Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar said that in the 69 days after Bush's announcement the agency registered a 45 percent drop in arrests along the U.S.-Mexican border, compared with the 69 days before.

But T.J. Bonner, who heads a union representing Border Patrol agents, credited a severe summer heat wave with the drop.

"It's normal for traffic to decline when the heat hits triple digits," said Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council.

___

Associated Press Writers Alicia Caldwell in El Paso, Texas, and Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed to this report.

[NormsRevenge]

.

Caption Left photo

A California Army National Guardsman grades dirt with a tractor next to the second U.S.-Mexico border fence in San Diego in this Wednesday, July 19, 2006, file photo. Far fewer than the 6000 National Guard troops promised by President Bush by August 1st are in position and working with the Border Patrol. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

---

Caption Right photo

Jim Gilchrist, founder of the border watchers group the 'Minutemen Project', applauds at a news conference near the 'Ground Zero' site of the World Trade Center in New York, July 26, 2006. Gilchrist and other Minutemen Project leaders held the event as protestors demonstrated against them. REUTERS/Mike Segar

[NormsRevenge]

California Army National Guard Maj. Daniel Markert, left, learns how to use a truck mounted infrared scope as U.S. Border Patrol agent Efren Burciaga, right, looks on along the United States-Mexico border in San Diego, in a Wednesday, July 19, 2006 file photo. The Bush administration has fallen well short of its goal of having 6,000 National Guardsmen along the Mexican border by the end of July. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)

[John Jorsett]

Guard officials said 6,199 troops were somewhere in the four southwestern border states, with many still in training.

I'm sure those troops stationed up in Humboldt are real godsends to the Border Patrol.

[CPT Clay]

Are 6000+ troops assigned to border duty or not?

[sheana]

Just some fuzzy math. rofl

[sheana]

Oh and I forgot, it depends on what "on" is. lol
I crack myself up!

[HiJinx]

Are 6000+ troops assigned to border duty or not?

Yes...the article is quite clear in its explanation.

Many troops are on the border, looking for illegal crossers. Many troops are sitting in Border Patrol stations doing admin duties in order to free up BP agents to go to the border and look for illegal crossers.

AFAIC, boots is boots and bodies is bodies. The number of people deployed to the SW Border States has increased by more than 6,000 and the number of people actually on the border has increased.

[NewRomeTacitus]

My state of Tennessee asked for 100 Volunteers and 200 immediately stepped up. When that was learned our Guardsman raised hell until our Democrat governor agreed to fifty more.

Tennesseeans are behind this effort if we're allowed to succeed. We're not into going into situations where we're supposed to fail. Low BS tolerance.

[Marine Inspector]

Many troops are sitting in Border Patrol stations doing admin duties in order to free up BP agents to go to the border and look for illegal crossers.

So far, those 6,000 NGT's have freed up less then 500 BPA's.

That doesn't sound very cost effective to me.

[DumpsterDiver]

Are 6000+ troops assigned to border duty or not?

That depends on the definition of "border duty."

The article states that "6,199 troops were somewhere in the four southwestern border states" and that the "Guard never intended to have 6,000 troops with their toes on the border."

There is no mention of how many Guardsmen are actually patrolling the border nor is there a number figure for how many Border Patrol agents have been (temporarily) freed up by the Guard's presence to patrol the border themselves.

The weasel-worded article goes on to say:

2,000 to 3,000 were on the border, most searching for illegal activity.

California has assigned more than 1,200 troops... half will be at the border looking for illegal activity; the other half will be in support roles ranging from plumbers to office workers.

Arizona - most of the troops are working at Border Patrol stations doing such jobs as communications and administrative support and vehicle repairs. Some are assigned to military bases to receive incoming troops.

New Mexico -- troops are helping spot illegal immigrants, building vehicle barriers and working in office positions.

[Kimberly GG]

"Are 6000+ troops assigned to border duty or not?"


"Yes...the article is quite clear in its explanation.
Many troops are on the border, looking for illegal crossers. Many troops are sitting in Border Patrol stations doing admin duties in order to free up BP agents to go to the border and look for illegal crossers.
AFAIC, boots is boots and bodies is bodies. The number of people deployed to the SW Border States has increased by more than 6,000 and the number of people actually on the border has increased."


Laughing myself silly.

[Kimberly GG]

"The Bush administration has fallen well short of its goal of having 6,000 National Guardsmen along the Mexican border by the end of July."

[Kimberly GG]

"Guard officials said 6,199 troops were somewhere in the four southwestern border states, with many still in training. "



TRAINING? TRAINING FOR WHAT? AUTO MECHANICS AND PLUMBING?



"About half will be at the border looking for illegal activity; the other half will be in support roles ranging from plumbers to office workers.

Most of the troops in Arizona are working at Border Patrol stations doing such jobs as communications and administrative support and vehicle repairs, Maj. Paul Aguirre said. Some are assigned to military bases to receive incoming troops.

In New Mexico, troops are helping spot illegal immigrants, building vehicle barriers and working in office positions, Agent Patrick Berry said. Soldiers near El Paso, Texas, were doing video surveillance and tending to horses, Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said. "

[janetgreen]

Bushspeak - the new border language. No one believes him anymore.

[HiJinx]

No, it isn't very cost-effective at all.

Thanks for the info.

[La Enchiladita]

Border strength hits 6,100


By Michelle Tan
Staff writer

More than 6,100 Army and Air National Guard troops are now deployed along the four southern border states, the National Guard Bureau announced Monday.

The troops are in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas as part of Operation Jump Start, a two-year effort designed to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection while it hires and trains 6,000 new Border Patrol agents. The added manpower provided by the Guard also allows more Border Patrol agents to return to law enforcement duties along the border.

The announcement that 6,199 troops were now serving along the border came one day before the Aug. 1 deadline given to the Guard to have up to 6,000 soldiers and airmen in the four states.

Operation Jump Start is part of a plan for sweeping immigration reform announced in May by President Bush.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1991374.php

---

Maybe we could TRY giving the benefit of the doubt?

[La Enchiladita]

Good for Tennessee. Thank you.

[stopem]

I could not believe the judge in CA gave a 1 year reprieve to illegals who were to be deported and the laraza character getting 1 million illegals registered to vote, he should be put in jail!!