Guard Presence on Border Worries Lawmakers

WASHINGTON - On the eve of President Bush's Oval Office address on immigration, members of Congress expressed concern Sunday that using National Guard troops to keep illegal immigrants from crossing the border would further burden an overextended military.

The criticism came from Democrats, but also an important Republican negotiator in the immigration debate — Sen. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record) of Nebraska. He said National Guard troops cannot secure the border over the long term and that he does not think it is wise even in the short term.

"We've got National Guard members on their second, third and fourth tours in Iraq," Hagel said. "We have stretched our military as thin as we have ever seen it in modern times. And what in the world are we talking about here, sending a National Guard that we may not have any capacity to send up to or down to protect borders? That's not their role."

The president's national security adviser said sending troops to patrol the border with Mexico is among the ideas Bush is considering on immigration.

Bush planned to say in his national address at 8 p.m. EDT Monday how the government should deal with border security and illegal immigrants already in the United States, Stephen Hadley said.

"This is not about militarizing the border," Hadley said on "Face the Nation" on CBS. "The president is looking to do everything he can to secure the border. It's what the American people want."

Bush is considering the National Guard plan as he seeks support from conservatives in Congress for his immigration bill. Bush wants to allow foreigners to get temporary work permits to enter and work in the U.S., but many conservatives want a tougher approach on illegal immigrants trying to sneak into the country.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said he supported using the National Guard on the Mexican border. He said lawmakers who doubt that the National Guard, whose members have served for years in Iraq and went to the Gulf Coast after last summer's hurricanes, could take on border patrol duty are "whining" and "moaning."

"We've got to secure our borders," Frist said on CNN's "Late Edition." "We hear it from the American people. We've got millions of people coming across that border. First and foremost, secure the border, whatever it takes. Everything else we've done has failed. We've got to face that. And so we need to bring in, I believe, the National Guard."

Hagel said the bill under debate in the Senate that he helped write would double the 12,000-strong Border Patrol force over the next five years. "That's the way to fix it, not further stretching the National Guard," he said on ABC's "This Week."

Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., said there may be a need for troops to fill in while the Border Patrol is bolstered. But he did not seem confident that the National Guard could take on the extra duty.

"We have stretched these men and women so thin, so thin, because of the bad mistakes done by the civilians in the military here, that I wonder how they're going to be able to do it," Biden said, also on ABC.

About 100 National Guard troops are serving on the border to assist with counter-drug operations, heavy equipment support and other functions. Bush is considering an increase into the thousands, and Hadley would not directly rule out using armed National Guard troops directly on guard duty.

Hadley also would not say whether Bush supports building a fence or wall along part of the border with Mexico. Hadley said the president and Congress will have to decide how immigrant workers who are in the U.S. illegally can become citizens.

Frist said the full Senate planned to begin debating the immigration bill Monday and that it would take up to two weeks to pass.

Senators would have to resolve any differences with the House version of the bill, which did not address the guest worker issue but increases penalties for illegal immigration activities and funds a 700-mile border fence.

Enforcement worries cowardly elites in Washington D.C.

Usually intent to enforce the law only worries those breaking the law, and those abetting the lawbreakers. Which side are you on hagel? As if I don't know. Biden?

BTW, from here...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1632125/posts

VOTERS ARE GIVING OPEN-BORDERS FOLKS A LOT OF GRIEF -- Cannon story

Rep. Cannon's problems today are similar to what we are saying in many locales across the country. Voters are starting to make a real difference.

A couple of years ago, Cannon was bragging that he was the White House point man in the House for Bush's efforts for a guestworker/amnesty program.

He appeared at the National Council of La Raza to receive an award for his championing of illegal aliens and he was widely quoted in national media giving the reasons why illegal aliens are good for America.

Two years ago, Matt Throckmorton kept Cannon from getting the 60% of GOP convention votes necessary to go on the ballot in the fall. That is almost unheard of for an incumbent Congressman, but Cannon's immigration positions gave Throckmorton a good handle to turn. Cannon went on to win the primary but with only 58% of the Republican voters supporting him.

Ever since then, Cannon has been a little more careful and has voted pretty well on enforcement issues while continuing to push for amnesties and massive guestworker programs.

Political newcomer John Jacob (a wealthy land developer) mounted a strong challenge to Cannon based on his support for amnesty and not only denied Cannon his 60% but actually beat him 52-48.

That means the Republican voters of Utah's 3rd Congressional District will get a chance to cast a clear immigration vote a month from now, deciding whether Cannon or Jacob will be the Republican nominee on the November ballot.

This is a huge development, especially since the Wall Street Journal and Grover Norquist have been claiming for a couple of years that Cannon's victory in '04 was proof that our immigration-reduction message just can't win at the polls.

Jacob needs to be better still on immigration. All of you in Utah need to really press him to become a clearer champion of our issues. To send him an immigration survey, click here.

We had another victory at the polls in the last week in Nebraska.

Congressman Tom Osborne lost his primary attempt to run for governor. As a long-time hero football coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, with huge margins of victory in the past and with an endorsement by Sen. McCain just before the primary, Osborne had looked like a sure thing.

But he lost. And even he said that one of the main reasons for his loss was his support for in-state tuition for illegal aliens. His opponent stood firm against providing incentives for illegal aliens.

Osborne was a lackluster Member of Congress on our issues, with a B-minus. He wasn't that bad. But Nebraska voters made it clear that they prefer somebody a little more excited about protecting them from out-of-control immigration.

BTW, McCain spoke at the Utah convention before the vote on Cannon. McCain did his usual plea for a massive guestworker program (which, for him, includes citizenship for illegal aliens and future guestworkers). Cannon has been one of the most enthusiastic supporters in the House for solutions like the ones offered by McCain.

If McCain had an effect on the delegates, it was to remind them why they didn't like Cannon.

The Herndon, Virginia City Council was overturned by the voters over immigration.

The decision by the Herdon City Council to use public funds to set up a center for mostly illegal-alien day laborers created a controversy that got national attention.

But when the mayor and city council members came up for re-election, the voters through out all but one of the incumbents seeking re-election. The mayor is gone. The new mayor and five of the six council members was elected on a platform of opposing providing incentives to illegal aliens.

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