Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, released the following statement in response to today’s joint announcement by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S. southern border beginning August 1, 2010.

“In order to further combat illegal activity along our southern border, the National Guard will deploy in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security 1,200 troops to the U.S. Southern Border beginning August 1. The focus of this deployment is to provide additional support and surveillance to our border security efforts already underway. In doing so, the majority of these guardsmen will assist with border surveillance and serve as entry identification teams between our land ports of entry to support Border Patrol in detecting the movement of illegal aliens and contraband traffickers. Additional guardsmen will serve as criminal intelligence analysts to support DHS intelligence forces.

“This combination of additional support will ensure we take all necessary steps to combat the spectrum of threats we face along the U.S. Mexico border. This temporary deployment will provide immediate support to our federal law enforcement until Customs and Border Protection and ICE can recruit and train additional officers, agents and analysts. I believe this will strengthen our multi-layered approach to combat narcotics, weapons and human smuggling along our border.

“As drug-related violence persists in neighboring Mexico, this is one more step we’re taking to ensure the safety of our border states who face a unique exposure to drug-related violence and illegal activity. Now we look to our Senate colleagues to immediately augment these efforts by passing the $701 million in emergency funding for the southern border that the House passed this July. These are critical funds to support our federal, state and local law enforcement that carry out our border security mission everyday.”

Background information: Today, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense announced the deployment of 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S. Mexico Border beginning August 1. The President authorized this deployment in order to provide intelligence surveillance and additional law enforcement support to DHS efforts along the southern border. This temporary deployment, at a maximum of one year, will provide support in the following states:

Arizona:            524 National Guard to be deployed

California:         224 National Guard to be deployed

New Mexico:    72 National Guard to be deployed (will also provide support to the El Paso region)

Texas:              250 National Guard to be deployed

Additionally, 130 National Guard will serve as command and control to the overall mission.

 

 

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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Government Oversight & Reform Committees in the 111^th Congress. Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition.