Texas Governor Rick Perry to Deploy 1,000 National Guardsmen at US-Mexico Border
Nikki Alfonso | | Jul 23, 2014 08:55 AM EDT |
(Photo : REUTERS)
Texan newspaper The Monitor said it received a memo outlining a plan by Texas Governor Ricky Perry that will bring 1,000 National Guard troops to the US-Mexico border, and the deployment cost will amount to US$12 million per month, according to an anonymous source.
Currently, more than 3,000 Border Patrol agents are already working in the region.
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According to The Monitor, the National Guard is expected to enter the area gradually and will build up to 1,000 troops after a month.
"The troops will join the Texas Department of Public Safety in its recent surge to combat human smuggling and drug trafficking amid the influx of mostly Central Americans illegally crossing the Rio Grande," the newspaper said.
Perry denies musings that he is militarizing local communities by bringing in the National Guard.
Texas Adjutant General John Nichols stated that his troops would only be "referring and deterring" people who jump the border, but they would not be detaining people. However, he also added that the National Guard could detain people if they were instructed to.
Before the announcement of the deployment, Perry already made his opinion and intentions known to legislators.
Last week in Iowa, Perry said that if the federal government had no intentions of securing the border despite apparent illegal activities, he would do it himself.
Governor Perry is eyeing the presidency for the second time and has plans of running for office in 2016.
His actions could bolster his standing among conservative members of his party who are against bipartisan efforts at immigration reform. A bipartisan approach would allow illegal migrants a path to citizenship.
There were mixed reactions to the reported plan of Perry to bring in the National Guard.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio said that children illegally crossing the border are doing so because they are seeking refuge from the violence in Central America. These children are not trying to dodge the border patrol, but rather, they are seeking them out. "Why would Rick Perry send soldiers to confront these kids?" he commented.
On the other hand, Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, tweeted praise for Perry, posting "Glad to hear @GovernorPerry is calling up the National Guard to help secure the border and protect our state. Pray for our troops."
Unaccompanied minors who are illegally crossing the border more than doubled over the past year. Because of this dilemma, President Obama asked for an emergency fund of US$3.7 billion to take countermeasures in dealing with the issue.
TagsRick Perry, Texas, Obama, Biden, US-Mexico Border, US-Mexico Crossing, Jeff Leach, Joaquin Castro-San Antonio, The Monitor, Texas governor, Central America, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador
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