Posted on 07/19/2006 7:25:39 PM PDT by SandRat
TOPEKA, Kan. -- Fifty airmen from the Kansas National Guard have been ordered to go to the U.S.-Mexico border to help with security and curbing the flow of illegal immigrants.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday that the airmen heading to Arizona were from the 184th Civil Engineering Squadron, based at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita.
It is the first use of Kansas National Guard members to assist with President Bush's plan to secure the border with Mexico. Bush announced in May a plan to deploy up to 6,000 Guard troops along the border for about two years.
Sebelius said the airmen will be constructing fences along the border and doing other engineering projects.
"It's Washington's responsibility to defend our borders, but since we've seen precious little action nationally on that front, states like Kansas are stepping up," Sebelius said in a written statement. "I fully support this operation, have authorized our sate to participate and know the men and women of the National Guard are ready to secure our border."
The deployment is expected to last 14 to 21 days, and the airmen will remain under the command of Sebelius while on the border.
Named Operation Jump Start, the use of National Guard soldiers from across the country is designed to free up agents with the U.S. Border Patrol to concentrate on intercepting illegal immigrants trying to enter the country.
Besides construction, the National Guard is providing support and intelligence to border agents.
Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, adjutant general of the Kansas National Guard, said the mission is akin to the state's efforts last year to assist with response and recovery along the Gulf Coast when Hurricane Katrina struck.
Who is this woman and why isn't she running for president?
Jay-Hawks comin to AZ and I don't mean for Round Ball or Grid-Iron Play.
Sibelius is Democrat and an arch liberal in most ways, accepts contributions from, George Tiller late term abortionist, etc.
Re the national guard; It was 104 here today, 107 probably in Topeka. They are probably happy to go somewhere to get out of the heat.
"Fifty airmen from the Kansas National Guard ..."
As usual, the MSM can't get their terms right. The 50 airman are in the Kansas Air National Guard, not the Kansas National Guard.
ping
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