Posted on 03/08/2006 12:45:41 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever
PHOENIX - Gov. Janet Napolitano on Wednesday ordered more National Guardsmen posted at the Mexican border to help stop illegal immigrants and curb related crimes.
National Guard troops have worked at the border since 1988, but Napolitano signed an order authorizing commanders to station an unspecified number of additional soldiers there to help federal agents.
Once the funding is approved, the troops will monitor crossing points, assist with cargo inspection and operate surveillance cameras, according to the order.
"They are not there to militarize the border," the governor said. "We are not at war with Mexico."
About 170 National Guardsmen are already posted at the nation's busiest illegal entry point, where they assist with communications, fence construction and anti-drug efforts.
Napolitano did not say how many additional troops would be stationed at the border and referred questions to the National Guard, which did not immediately return a call.
Napolitano has asked the military to pay for her plan, but said she would commit state dollars if necessary.
The governor declared an immigration emergency last summer in Arizona's four border counties, citing security shortcomings by the federal government.
Anyone who helps to protect our porous borders is alright in my book.
Be afraid! Be very afraid! I just might be adding to it!
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Thanks for the warning.
The legislature called her bluff by authorizing the money to put the guard on the border. Now she has to follow though or knows she would NOT be re-elected for sure later this year... (I am hoping she wont be anyway, but dont see too much competition for the seat at this point...)
Yes the state is being fined $1 million a day for not having some extra english immersion program. She got the fines redirected into an account to fund the program that we dont have. It was her way of forcing funding for a program she wanted but did not get and now she is blaming it on our legislature but they have rewritten the bill 4 times now and she veto'd it the first 3. This last time she refused to sign or veto it and let it go for review by the federal judge that imposed the fines... if she would have just done this originally either the whole issue would be over and fines would be done with or we would at least know what the feds wanted added to it by now. I dont care what the hell she does from now on, because of all the partisan games she plays, no way in hell I am voting for her ever!
I do not know, as I do not reside in Arizona. I do know that border states (I am a Texan) and counties are always at the federal trough for additional Law Enforcement funding. It is a catch-22. The funding for drug interdiction, armored personnel vehicles, surveillance equipment, and automatic weaponry is in the $400 million range. But this gadgetry may only be used against American citizens. The bribery and intimidation within CBP and certain Sheriff departments is blatant and rampant. Corruption abounds on both sides of the border. The Mexican Federal police turn as much of a blind eye as the US government does. The human toll on illegal immigrants, legal immigrants, and American citizens is staggering. Slave wages, forced prostitution, coerced drug mules. The economic impact is huge, especially for healthcare and basic services. It becomes an unfunded federal mandate, due to misplaced priorities. English only? Our school district works to mainstream Spanish-speaking students within 2 years. Fines do not fix the problems. Amnesty did not fix the problem. Mass deportation is untenable. Green cards and gold cards are a farce. A wall is a joke.
Who will bell the cat?
Maybe so. Either there is an ineffective PR group in Austin, or these operations were hushed. Perry also said that he would keep the legislature in session until the completed school finance. They punted to the feds (AGAIN). Not all Perrys' fault, and his leadership during the hurricane evacuations was good. I just have not seen anything from the Governors office that has made me say "wow". Maybe things will improve some. I hope so, because our young'uns deserve a great Texas.
Sadly the dems are worse. If they win in the elections they will remove them and "negotate" with Mexico with us paying the tab.
The AZ gov is an ardent supporter of McCain-Kennedy.
"Because single issue zealots always think the population agrees with them. Then the election occurs and they find out most people are smart enough to vote based on more than one issue."
Are you going to deliver that message to the millions of people who vote Republican simply because they are pro-life? Not saying that you are wrong, just that single issue voters are a good portion of the people who put Bush and other republcians in office.
Ditto! As yet, I don't think she has sent troops to the border. We need to push hard for English only - the parents and the board in district 13 are going to ask for more money for a Spanish class in the High School and will need at least two new teachers. They can take Spanish now; it is obvious what the ploy is here.
The statements about "we need the illegal workers" cheeses me off. I have family members who did landscaping and other grunt work as teens. My dad worked as a laborer for a while. I have an 11 year old son who would love to mow lawns.
She will test the wind to see if her approval ratings go up..
The troops will no doubt have their hands tied behind their backs ..the way liberals always do when in charge...
It's all for the cameras....bluster without substance...
Always a matter of appearances never doing the right thing
simply for the sake of doing the right thing...
Superficial agenda driven politics....as usual...
Seems like we voted english only in a couple times now... When my nephew moved to El Mirage and Cactus about 5 years ago, his kids started going to Dysart elementary school, at that time, most classes were being taught in spanish only because the majority of of the school did not speak english. They were told their kids could be bussed to a school in the district, but much further from home that had classes in english...
on the other hand, my son learned 10x the spanish in two years of high school spanish class than I did in 4 years about 25 years ago in Oregon... because he was able to practice with fellow students.
I live in West Phoenix and 8th grade graduations are done in english and spanish with well over half the graduating students being hispanic, my kids are definately a minority at school!
A complete waste of State tax dollars and manpower.
No, it's a waste of State resources and it does nothing to increase security at the border.
She deserves no praise. This is grandstanding for the election and putting the NG at the Ports, where they are not needed, is a joke.
But I'm sure there are some really dumb Republicans in AZ that have no clue about the border and vote for here because of this.
Yes it is, and Napi putting the NG at the AZ Ports has nothing to do with security.
It's all political grandstanding and she knows there are enough dumb republicans that will buy into it.
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