Gov. Schwarzenegger Deploys National Guard Troops to California-Mexico Border
Receives Briefing on Status of Mission & Tours Border
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the first of 224
soldiers and airmen have completed their training to go operational in
the field with border patrol agents, with expectations of becoming fully
operational on September 1. The Governor made the announcement while
visiting California National Guard (CNG) service members who have been
deployed to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the
California-Mexico border, where he also received a briefing from state
and federal officials on the status of the mission.
the field with border patrol agents, with expectations of becoming fully
operational on September 1. The Governor made the announcement while
visiting California National Guard (CNG) service members who have been
deployed to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the
California-Mexico border, where he also received a briefing from state
and federal officials on the status of the mission.
“I take great pride in serving as Commander-in-Chief of the California
National Guard. Our soldiers and airmen are true action heroes who
respond to disasters at home and overseas. Today, our National
Guard has been called to help secure the border and protect the safety
of the American people, and I am proud that we are the first state to
have our troops trained and operational for this mission,” said Governor
Schwarzenegger. “These men and women will provide much needed
assistance to help secure our border, but it’s important to remember
that this is only the beginning. We must find a permanent solution to
our broken immigration system. We need the federal government to step up
with even more manpower and funding, and I will continue to push
President Obama and Congress for action.”
respond to disasters at home and overseas. Today, our National
Guard has been called to help secure the border and protect the safety
of the American people, and I am proud that we are the first state to
have our troops trained and operational for this mission,” said Governor
Schwarzenegger. “These men and women will provide much needed
assistance to help secure our border, but it’s important to remember
that this is only the beginning. We must find a permanent solution to
our broken immigration system. We need the federal government to step up
with even more manpower and funding, and I will continue to push
President Obama and Congress for action.”
Last month, the Governor directed CNG to temporarily support federal efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, in support
of President Barack Obama’s proposal to deploy 1,200 National Guard
personnel along the southwest border of the U.S. The deployment is for
up to one year in support of counternarcotics and border security
operations. Following the Governor’s directing, CNG soldiers and airmen
began their training at Camp Roberts, California.
personnel along the southwest border of the U.S. The deployment is for
up to one year in support of counternarcotics and border security
operations. Following the Governor’s directing, CNG soldiers and airmen
began their training at Camp Roberts, California.
“The California National Guard is proud to be at the forefront of
homeland security, helping to secure our nation’s borders,” said
Adjutant General Brigadier General Mary J. Kight. “Our soldiers and
airmen bring a high level of civilian career expertise and military
training to the mission that allows them to be a superb force multiplier
to the Border Patrol.”
Adjutant General Brigadier General Mary J. Kight. “Our soldiers and
airmen bring a high level of civilian career expertise and military
training to the mission that allows them to be a superb force multiplier
to the Border Patrol.”
CNG will be performing a variety of duties including entry
identification and criminal analysis. Entry Identification teams will
provide additional assistance to CBP, watching from strategic remote
sites and reporting any suspicious activity to patrolling agents.
provide additional assistance to CBP, watching from strategic remote
sites and reporting any suspicious activity to patrolling agents.
The Governor has long believed that more border patrol agents are
needed to reduce illegal border crossings and end human trafficking and
the influx of narcotics:
the influx of narcotics:
In June 2006, he issued
General Order Number 2006-01 directing the California National Guard to
temporarily support federal efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
temporarily support federal efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
Leading up to the ending of Operation Jump Start, the Governor sent a letter
to President Bush in February 2008 requesting that the program be
extended because the operational objective was only half complete.
extended because the operational objective was only half complete.
This letter was followed by a joint letter
sent in April 2008 with Governor Schwarzenegger and the governors of
Arizona and New Mexico urging Congressional leaders to support an
extension until the federal government's operational objective of 6,000
border patrol agents had been added to the force.
Arizona and New Mexico urging Congressional leaders to support an
extension until the federal government's operational objective of 6,000
border patrol agents had been added to the force.
In April 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger again joined the governors of the southwest border states in sending a letter
to Congressional leaders, this time urging the full funding of the
National Guard Counter-Drug Program to add additional personnel to the
four southwest border states and ensure that the funding remains
sufficient to reach a significant decline in border drug trafficking and
violence.
National Guard Counter-Drug Program to add additional personnel to the
four southwest border states and ensure that the funding remains
sufficient to reach a significant decline in border drug trafficking and
violence.
You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!
Join 12160 Social Network