Governor Considers Declaring Border Emergency

SAN DIEGO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday he would consider joining his counterparts in Arizona and New Mexico in declaring a state of emergency to strengthen law enforcement along the border with Mexico.

"We're talking about that right now," Schwarzenegger told a local radio station. "If we see a need for that, we definitely will do the same thing."

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson issued an emergency declaration on Friday to free up $1.75 million in funding to fight crime and illegal immigration along that state's border with Mexico.

"Recent developments have convinced me this action is necessary -- including violence directed at law enforcement, damage to property and livestock, increased evidence of drug smuggling and an increase in the number of undocumented immigrants," Richardson said.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano issued a similar declaration on Monday, allowing $1.5 million to be earmarked to fight criminal activity and illegal immigration along the Arizona border.

"The federal government has failed to secure our border, and the health and safety of all Arizonans is threatened daily by violent gangs, coyotes and other dangerous criminals," Napolitano said.

"Anyone who lives at the border can attest to the fact that what they face is devastating," she added. "I intend to take every action feasible to stem the tide of criminal behavior on the Arizona side of the border."

Both Democratic governors joined Schwarzenegger, a Republican, at a recent conference on border issues in New Mexico, which included representatives from Mexican states.

"We all have talked about the importance of really securing the borders," Schwarzenegger told the radio station.

"It is not just the flow of illegal immigrants that are coming over here, but it is also the drug trafficking that is going on, the violence that is going on on the borders and the human trafficking," he said.

Schwarzenegger said he would only consider declaring a state of emergency along California's border with Mexico "if there's a need."

"Right now, we are having things somewhat under control, so there was no reason for it yet," he said. "If there is a reason for it, we definitely would do that."

Schwarzenegger was recently criticized by Latino groups for his praise of the so-called "minutemen" civilian patrols that monitored San Diego County's border with Mexico this summer.

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Arizona, New Mexico Issue Declaration