Posted on 07/20/2014 9:06:01 PM PDT by bd476
Gov. Rick Perry to deploy 1,000 National Guard troops to RGV
Texas Gov. Rick Perry plans to announce he will activate the Texas National Guard at a news conference Monday in Austin, said state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen.
Hinojosa did not have details of the effort, but an internal memo from another state official’s office said the governor planned to call about 1,000 Texas National Guard troops to the Rio Grande Valley — at a cost of about $12 million per month.
The memo was provided to The Monitor on the condition of anonymity because the information is not yet public.
Troops are expected to enter the area gradually, building up to 1,000 after about a month, the memo said.
The troops will join the Texas Department of Public Safety in its recent surge to combat human smuggling and drug trafficking amid the influx of mostly Central Americans illegally crossing the Rio Grande. Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and Texas House Speaker Joe Straus announced the $1.3 million per week effort last month.
State leaders approved funding for extra DPS troopers to fill in gaps in Border Patrol coverage in the Valley as the federal authorities were overwhelmed with an influx of children and families from Central America. The state officials feared Mexican drug cartels might exploit the situation to move their own drugs and human contraband while Border Patrol attention was turned elsewhere.
Hinojosa said Perry's move smacked of political gamesmanship.
“All these politicians coming down to border, they don't care about solving the problem, they just want to make a political point,” he said.
State officials denied the move amounted to a militarization of the border.
“This is not a militarization of the border,” the memo states. “The DPS and the National Guard are working to keep any drug and human trafficking south of (U.S. Highway) 83 and with the goal of keeping any smuggling from entering major highways to transport East/West/and North.”
DPS officials want to send National Guard troops into western areas of the Valley and the ranch lands further north, according to the memo.
“Smuggling has supposedly according to DPS moved West on the border with an increase in Jim Hogg County," the memo states. "DPS especially wants to apply the Guard in the rural areas to patrol.”
The National Guard deployment — added to the DPS surge — will bring the price tag of troopers on the border to about $5 million per week, the memo said. And the funding source for the effort remains unclear.
“It is not clear where the money will come from in the budget,” the memo states, adding that Perry's office has said the money will come from “non critical” areas, such as health care or transportation.
Hinojosa said the National Guard was not equipped to aid immigrants crossing the Rio Grande.
“They (cartels) are taking advantage of the situation,” he said. “But our local law enforcement from the sheriff’s offices of the different counties to the different police departments are taking care of the situation. This is a civil matter, not a military matter. What we need is more resources to hire more deputies, hire more Border Patrol.
“These are young people, just families coming across. They're not armed. They're not carrying weapons.”
Thank you for stating the issue.
Perry has long been an advocate for stronger 10th amendment rights.
The Feds tie our hands.
Perry and every governor is fighting with at least one hand tied behind his back,and hobbled to boot!
When the South lost in 1865 it was not only slavery of blacks that was ended but the concept of states’ rights;since then the Washington-based tyrants have taken over every aspect of life.
The totally unjustified 1898 war against Spain was just a grab for territory ;and then it was used to justify forming a larger permanent standing Army ,and placing the state Guard firmly under the federal government’s control.
The truth is that the original concept of each state being free to operate in its own unique manner within the broad guidelines of the Constitution has been replaced by the reality of the states becoming just administrative districts forced to carry out onerous regulations imposed by Washington elites.
The control freaks and tyrants cannot abide the idea of all the general populace not following in lockstep.
Don’t forget, each Sheriff in each county can deputize anyone they like...this could be coordinated through the governor’s office....
so what’s the deal. The Texas guard will stop the illegals and turn them over to ICE, who will spread them out across the country so no one can find them?
Indeed.
Indeed, the problem lies at the federal level.
Perry may be criticized for tilting at wind mills in that sort of environment but, he charges at it again and again, attempting to wake up the general public.
I will not fault the man for sounding the alarm.
That seems to be what is happening.
Thank you, Jane.
Then whats the point of spending 12 million per week or month to “shore” up the border? Just tear down all existing fences and disband the border guard.
Leave bus ticket and water vending machines there.
I love the way the Libs have altered the meaning of “diversity”.
They describe it as some sort of melting together a “unity”
By its very meaning in means Different, Set from the others, apart...
Divide and conquer buddy, Divide and conquer...
That is what they are masters of.
“He is not allowed to let them shoot..”
So what do the do when they are fired upon? Waive a white diaper? I guess though, it’s not any different that Afghanistan, right?
Let’s not minimize the importance of this move. The presence of the National Guard can give state and local law enforcement officials more freedom to prevent crossings of the Rio Grande, as well as giving some relief to border patrol.
Consider it a protest like Jimrob and others are doing, to raise awareness.
It is of value even if it will not actually send one illegal back presently.
Well yes it is a deterrent to the real bad actors.
Real baddies do not want to get caught in this net.
Saw some ahole the other day that was so dumb and illiterate he handed over a warrant to Tx authority’s to demonstrate his bonefides LOL
He was promptly handed to ICE will prolly be prosecuted and deported.
Still, we have this illegal immigration problem, I can not get my own family here!
Our System IS Broken!
I hope they will be armed to the hilt.
I’m not so sure he would be prosecuted. Didn’t Obama recently free something like 60,000 from our prisons who were convicted of everything from tax fraud, ID theft to rape and murder??
What is wrong with a militarization of the border?
I could see after we have a huge working fence, it might not be necesary...but until then - roll tanks.
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