[flamefront]

And from above

Under current rules, the troops are protected by the armed agents of U.S. Customs and the Immigration and Naturalization Service they are assisting.

Which combined with the previous would disarm both the troops and the INS. What a kettle of fish that would be.

[badfreeper]

"Under current rules, the troops are protected by the armed agents of U.S. Customs and the Immigration and Naturalization Service they are assisting."

Sound policy. Some might view putting armed soldiers on borders as an act of aggression. If the custom officers CAN be armed, why not hire more customs workers? I wonder, how much cheaper is it to staff border stations with National Guard vs. Customs Officers? Isn't the NG situation supposed to be temporary until more customs officers can be hired and trained?