Illegal Immigration Watch: Only 483 National Guard Troops on Mexican Border

Pvt. Ashley Christopher, left, Border Patrol vehicle control officer Paul G. Franco III, center, and Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Wong, work on a Border Patrol vehicle Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at the Border Patrol garage in Yuma, Ariz. Arizona has been the nation’s busiest entry point for illegal crossings. More than 300 National Guardsmen from Arizona are expected to be in the state by month’s end to take over support jobs now requiring immigration agents to handle, or will work on such infrastructure improvements as fencing, lighting, roads or vehicle barriers while the Border Patrol recruits 6,000 more agents to beef up to about 18,000.

AP: Only 483 Guard Working on Mexican Border

On the deadline to have 2,500 troops along the Mexican border, the National Guard said Friday that only 483 were in position and working with the U.S. Border Patrol as the Bush administration had directed.

But Guard officials said more than 2,000 others were somewhere inside the four southwestern border states, training or helping plan the deployment. He and Bush administration officials argued Friday that the presence of troops in those states spelled success in the first stage of the mission.

Mr. President, you promised the American people you would send the National Guard to help secure the Mexican border.

Are you and the federal government committed to this project?

Tell California Governor Schwarzeneger to free up more California National Guard troops. His position of obstinance is unacceptable.

Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, an arm of the Pentagon, had promised June 1 that by the end of the month 2,500 Guard troops would be working “on the border.”

“As defined by the operation, the National Guard has met and exceeded its goal of deploying 2,500 soldiers and airmen to the four Southwest border states,” said White House spokesman Blain Rethmeier. “Progress to date is real and the Guard’s efforts are making a positive difference in this national effort.”

As evidence, he said the early arrival of troops had allowed the Border Patrol to send 125 agents “back to the front lines,” and helped the Border Patrol catch nearly 200 illegal immigrants, seize 123 pounds of marijuana, 18 pounds of cocaine and seven vehicles.

Through initial pay requests filed with the Air Guard and orders filed with the Army Guard, the Guard bureau verified 2,547 troops were in the four border states for the mission, said Daniel Donohue, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau.

Only 483 were physically on the border, he conceded.

Get the National Guard on the border, Mr. President.

Secure the border first!

Bush’s plan for stemming illegal immigration by using National Guardsmen in a support role called for 2,500 troops to be on the border by June 30, and 6,000 by the end of July.

Bush had said the mission would free up thousands of officers now on other duties to actively patrol the border. Guardsmen are expected to build fences, conduct routine surveillance and take care of other administrative duties for the border patrol.

GEt Busy…..

And, Mr.President, have the Justice Department start targeting large employers of illegal aliens in the Midwest for immigration law violations. Do you need some names?

Stay tuned……

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