Arizona to send at least 225 National Guard members to US-Mexico border

PHOENIX — Arizona is ramping up the number of National Guard members it will send to the U.S.-Mexico border this week as part of President Donald Trump’s latest border security strategy.

Gov. Doug Ducey tweeted on Monday that the state would deploy 225 National Guard members that day with 113 more troops being deployed on Tuesday.

Just updated Arizona border sheriffs on today's deployment of National Guard. LATEST: 225 guard members being deployed today, additional members tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/HL4lATRyNX

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) April 9, 2018

Ducey also said Monday that “these troops will be helping our federal partners with any support role responsibilities that they need, and will be stationed in both the Tucson and Yuma sectors.”

Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier said in a press release Monday that an additional 113 troops will be deployed after Monday, for a total initial deployment of 338 troops.

“This deployment to the border will be very similar to the missions of military personnel under both the Bush and Obama administrations. AZNG personnel will not be used in an enforcement role and will not have law enforcement powers. AZNG personnel will provide support to federal law enforcement so they may better deploy enforcement personnel/resources.”

The governor confirmed that news in a tweet.

The deployment will be in order to “support border security measures,” a press release said.

“Guardsmen will be sent to the border to provide mission-enhancing capabilities that will help U.S. Customs and Border Protection increase operational control of the region. The Guard will provide air support, reconnaissance support, operational support, construction of border infrastructure and logistical support.”

The move was called “Operation Guardian Shield,” Ducey said at a news conference on Monday.

Arizona National Guard troops deploying to Arizona’s southern border with Mexico. @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/p6jtCAl1mm

— Griselda Zetino (@GriseldaZetino) April 9, 2018

“The mission is to support the efforts of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in their efforts to secure the border and keep border communities safe,” Ducey said.

Ducey said the troops will provide manpower and resources to support agencies in stopping the flow of criminals, drugs, weapons and ammunition that are trafficked into Arizona.

“Your support will free up border agents to put more boots on the ground” and make Arizona safer, Ducey added.

It is not clear how long the members will be deployed for. Ducey said the mission was “open-ended.”

Ducey later told reporters later that the deployments are needed to stop a surge of border crossings since March and accused the U.S. government of previously ignoring the border “for nearly a decade.”

Ducey denied that his decision to send guard members to the border was politically motivated.

“I don’t think this is a partisan issue or an identity issue,” Ducey said. “You show me somebody who is for drug cartels or human trafficking or this ammunition that’s coming over a wide-open and unprotected border here.”

Ducey said last week that Arizona would only send 150 troops to the border.

National Guard to protect border ahead of wall

Trump said last week that he wanted the National Guard to secure the border until his oft-promised wall could be built.

The president said in a memorandum to his secretaries of defense and homeland security and to his attorney general that the “situation at the border has now reached a point of crisis.”

Trump said that “lawlessness” at the southern border was “fundamentally incompatible with the safety, security, and sovereignty of the American people” and that his administration “has no choice but to act.”

Defense Secretary James Mattis last Friday approved paying for up to 4,000 National Guard personnel from the Pentagon budget through the end of September.

A Defense Department memo said the National Guard members will not perform law enforcement functions or “interact with migrants or other persons detained” without Mattis’s approval.

It said “arming will be limited to circumstances that might require self-defense” but did not further define that.

Ducey welcomed the plan, saying “Washington has ignored this issue for too long and help is needed. For Arizona, it’s all about public safety.”

New Mexico’s Republican governor, Susana Martinez, has said her state would take part in the operation but no announcement has been made on deployment.

California Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, has not said if his state’s Guard members will participate.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday he will boost number of National Guard troops to Mexico border to at least 1,000, up from 250.

Local law enforcement officers’ reactions to Trump, Ducey

Col. Frank Milstead, the director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, praised Ducey’s “commitment to public safety and border security” in a tweet on Monday.

Thank you Governor for your commitment to public safety and border security. The work we do with our Sheriffs and @CBP @CBPArizona is paramount in keeping AZ Safe. https://t.co/whiGFiX2co

— Col. Frank Milstead (@frank_milstead) April 9, 2018

Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, whose county is partially located on the southeastern Arizona border, said in a statement last week that he wants to discuss the issue with Ducey and “align our thoughts going forward.

“The proposed plan is all about security on the border and it needs to be a balanced approach with specific details provided on what this will mean for public safety in Cochise County jurisdictions,” part of the statement read.

“I consistently reach out to our local, state, and federal partners to work together in fulfilling our mission in providing safety and security, and this will be no different. I look forward to reviewing the proclamation and receiving additional information for this proposal.”

Santa Cruz Sheriff Tony Estrada, whose jurisdiction includes a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac and Gaydos last week that he would rather see more people guarding the three ports of entry.

“The majority of the hard drugs that are coming into this country through Santa Cruz county are coming through the three ports of entry,” he said. “The coke, the meth, marijuana, heroin, they’re coming through the ports of entry.”

“If they’re going to deploy anybody to deal with some of the issues on the border, I think drugs are what they need to address more than anything else,” Estrada added.

“In my opinion, illegal immigration pales — it pales — in comparison to the drug problem that we have in this nation. There’s not enough officers or inspectors at the ports of entry to be able to deal with it.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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