Spokane7
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May 26, 2010 in Nation/World
Obama beefs up border security
WASHINGTON – Under pressure to take action, President Barack Obama on Tuesday ordered 1,200 National Guard troops to boost security along the U.S.-Mexico border, pre-empting Republican efforts to force a congressional vote to send the troops.
Obama will also request $500 million for border protection and law enforcement activities, according to lawmakers and administration officials.
The president’s action comes as chances for comprehensive immigration reform, Obama’s long-stated goal, look increasingly dim in this election year. Obama has been all but compelled to do something since Arizona’s passage of a tough illegal immigration law thrust the border problem into the public spotlight.
Indeed, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer credited her signing of the controversial new law for compelling Obama to act. Signing the law, Brewer said in a statement, “clearly ignited the talk of action in Washington for the people of Arizona and other border states.”
The National Guard troops will work on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, analysis and training, and support efforts to block drug trafficking. They will temporarily supplement Border Patrol agents until Customs and Border Protection can recruit and train additional officers and agents to serve on the border, according to a letter Tuesday from top administration security officials to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich.
In 2006, President George W. Bush sent thousands of troops to the border to perform support duties that tie up immigration agents. But that program has since ended, and politicians in border states have called for troops to be sent to curb human and drug smuggling and to deal with Mexico’s drug violence that has been spilling over into the United States.
The White House released the letter signed by national security adviser James Jones and White House counterterror chief John Brennan not long after Obama met at the Capitol with Republican senators who pressed him on immigration issues, including the question of sending troops to the border.
Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl have been urging such a move, and Republicans planned to try to require it as an amendment to a pending war spending bill.
In a speech Tuesday on the Senate floor, McCain said the situation on the U.S.-Mexico border has “greatly deteriorated.” He called for 6,000 National Guard troops to be sent, and he asked for $250 million more to pay for them.
“I appreciate the additional 1,200 being sent … as well as an additional $500 million, but it’s simply not enough,” McCain said.
McCain’s amendment would direct the defense secretary to deploy the National Guard troops. The letter from Jones and Brennan took scathing aim at that approach.
“It represents an unwarranted interference with the commander in chief’s responsibilities to direct the employment of our armed forces,” Jones and Brennan wrote.
A military official said Tuesday that details were still being worked out on the troops’ orders and destinations, adding that the timing of their deployment was not yet clear.
The Defense Department, which has been jousting with the Homeland Security Department for the better part of a year over the possible deployment, had previously expressed concerns that the troops not be used for law enforcement duties. Pentagon officials are worried about perceptions that the U.S. was militarizing the border.
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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maribennet on May 26 at 2:33 a.m.
Yeah, I totally disagree this freaking law.How can people be so cruel…well, I also read on http://immigration.civiltalks.com/ , I liked this blog a lot because there are a lot of people who are debating their opinions. It’s a kind of “taking your time”and relax.
Charlie on May 26 at 7:18 a.m.
Close the darn border, start a guest worker program and tell Caldaron to mind his own business.
IHike4Fun on May 26 at 7:37 a.m.
You disagree with the AZ law and think it is cruel??? I bet you have never even read it. I says you get stopped for a traffic violation you have to show your drivers license. So what is new here? If you don’t have any ID the police can investigate further. Maybe it has escapted your notice but the 2 word term ‘illegal alien’ has the first word for a reason.
What is sad is that AZ had to impliment a law that said the federal immigration laws could no longer be ignored.
SugarShane on May 26 at 8:58 a.m.
Whats really sad is that whats fueling violence, drug prohibition, is not even being looked at as a cause or solution. Once again, its not people or anything to do with politics, but money. Before Obama was elected they set up a site to see what the American people were concerned about and what should be worked on. The overwhelming response was marijuana law reform, runner up was health reform. So what happens? He ignores what the people have asked for and follows his own agenda. Directing federal prosecutors not to prosecute medical MJ users was simply not enough and NOT what the American people asked for. What a load of BS. America you sure pick the stupidest things to squabble over and spend money on.
spokanada on May 26 at 10:34 a.m.
Secure the border with personnel and go after the employers who hire undocumented workers. Is there any easier solution than this?