Posted on 06/03/2006 8:48:42 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
PHOENIX - Fifty-five National Guard members from Utah arrived in Yuma on Saturday afternoon — the first troops to be sent to the Arizona-Mexico border in a new crackdown on illegal immigration.
The Utah troops had been scheduled to work on fences and other projects as part of the Guard's long-standing efforts at the Arizona border, officials had said as late as Wednesday. But their mission has since been folded into President Bush's plan to send up to 6,000 National Guard troops to the four southern border states to supplement federal immigration agents.
The Utah troops got word of the change Friday from Guard officials in Washington, D.C., said Maj. Hank McIntire, a spokesman for the Utah National Guard.
They are scheduled to be briefed on their mission Sunday and start field work as early as Monday, he said.
Under the president's plan, troops will perform support duties to allow federal authorities to focus on border security. They won't perform law enforcement duties.
The Utah troops, who will not carry weapons, will be in Yuma for two weeks to install improved lighting at a border crossing, extend an existing border fence and build a road, McIntire said.
The projects will be done in the area of San Luis, Ariz., a town 25 miles south of Yuma with a fortified stretch of border with Mexico.
The town is part of the nation's busiest U.S. Border Patrol station, in a state that is the nation's busiest illegal entry point.
A 12-foot corrugated metal fence divides San Luis from Mexico, reinforced 50 yards to the north by an 8-foot chain-link fence topped with barbed wire and towers with surveillance cameras. Stadium lights help agents spot those who try to slip across at night.
Gov. Janet Napolitano proposed a similar plan in December, but it remained on the shelf while funding was sought.
Officials say 300 National Guard soldiers from Arizona are expected to begin arriving at the state's border in mid-June.
About 170 National Guard troops are already helping federal and state officers there with communications, fence construction and anti-drug efforts.
The National Guard has been providing such assistance along the Arizona border for more than 15 years.
Troops from the Utah Guard were deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005 and helped with recovery efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, McIntire said.
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It appears he's very consistent in that regard.
I'm confused.
This seems to say that the Utah troops were ALREADY going to the border. So when they are "redirected" per Bush's new plan, doesn't that leave their original mission SHORT that same number of people?
In other words, these first troops are not NEW or ADDITIONAL troops, they're just re-assigned from other border duties. It's nothing but a shuffle! Who's covering what these guys were gonna do???
Please, somebody tell me I'm wrong. I hate shell games, and this smells.
I think the reprocussions will be very serious if one NG member dies because they're sent unarmed among drug thugs.
I wonder if any FReepers could assist the NG by providing them watering stations or some other help?
These Utah Guardsmen have a "long-standing" record of working on the border already...only this year, they won't be armed and will work on "improving lighting" at a border crossing because they are part of the President's phony border security scam. Under his new rules, it sounds as though the Guardsmen will be doing less, not more, for border enforcement. He really does think we are stupid.
Are you saying that in past years we Utah has sent armed people to the border?
You silly boy! You actually think that the U.S. Constitution means anything?
No. These troops are likely heavy engineers, not infantry. This gives them the opportunity to practice their skills in a relatively threat-free environment (as compared to, say, Iraq). Using cheap local labor (ie, illegals or people with ties to illegals) to build the fence probably isn't the best idea either.
Nope, not unconstitutional at all. The two governors simply work out an agreement with each other. Most states have some sort of reciprocal agreement with their neighboring states already, so that in the event of natural disaster they can request NG troops from their neighbors.
Usually, the way it works is that the troops are attached to a local unit, which means that the local unit is responsible for supporting them but has no UCMJ authority over them. That's very, very typical for relatively short-term deployments.
Worth repeating (with bold). Thanks.
Fantastic! Thanks NG .
"The National Guard has been providing such assistance along the Arizona border for more than 15 years. "
Had no idea that they were there for 15 years.
"Troops from the Utah Guard were deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005 and helped with recovery efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, McIntire said. "
We salute you .
Only now, they'll be doing it without guns. Smooth move.
You have some very good questions. The Utah National Guard has been run ragged of late and the guys are tired and overworked. Among their many challenges has been the problem of selecting men to serve in Iraq/Afghanistan with other guard units -- these soldiers have literally become lost orphans in the paperwork, etc. -- not watched over by the guard unit the've been sent to and lost from the Utah Guard. I'll be talking with a guard member later today and will definetly ask their opinion on this latest escapade. These guys and gals love serving their country and were very happy to help out after the hurricane. They do what they're asked to do whether well-equipped or not, whether armed or not. I love 'em.
In your dreams.
You should see some of the "loot" they get. Any "drug runner" vehicles they confiscate are sold and they get the $$$s. They are allowed to keep some and have several trucks with campers, SUVs, and other vehicles.
Confiscated weapons are turned over to the proper authorities. They are armed at all times.
Leni
You should check out the polls that consistently put 80%+ of the American public on my side of this issue.
I think there will be more seat turnover within the GOP than between parties, as those willing to sell our country to Vincente Fox find out that Americans aren't too happy about becoming second-class citizens in our own country.
God bless them...and tell Bush to ARM them and DO THE JOB...!
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