Following President Donald Trump’s calls for enhanced border security, Texas and Arizona will deploy National Guard troops to the Mexican border.
According to Newsweek, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said on Friday that about 150 guard members would be deployed next week, while the Texas National Guard’s spokesman said that about 250 would be sent to the border within the next 72 hours.
Texas Military Department Brigadier General Tracy Norris said Friday evening that “within 72 hours the Texas Military Department will have 250 personnel along with ground surveillance vehicles as well as light- and medium-aviation platforms.”
President Trump has said he wants to send 4,000 troops to patrol the 1,954 miles long border in an effort to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking until his wall has been built. NBC News wrote that Defense Secretary James Mattis has approved Pentagon budgeting for the deployment. The troops will be assigned through September 30 and will not be used for law enforcement or interaction with immigrants unless Defense Secretary James Mattis approves it. They will be armed only if required for self-defense.
Many details, such as total manpower, the duration of the mission and costs, are still being negotiated.
The states of New Mexico and California have also been asked to send troops to the border. The President also outlined plans to end so-called “arrest and release” policies Friday night as part of his immigration crackdown. Under the new policy, arrested immigrants would be kept in custody while waiting to hear if they’ll be deported instead of being released pending a decision.
The urgency to increase manpower on the southern border follows a sharp uptick in illegal border crossings last month. U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended 50,308 immigrants in March, up from 16,588 during the same month last year.
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