Union chief sees military working surveillance on US-Mexico border

PHOENIX — Troops sent to the United States-Mexico border by President Donald Trump would likely serve in a surveillance role, the head of the Border Patrol agents union said Wednesday.

“We expect the military, or the National Guard, to be our eyes,” Brandon Judd told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Bruce St. James and Pamela Hughes.

“They would allow us to put more resources in the field as opposed to having our agents in the control room watching cameras, monitoring sensors, sitting in skyboxes and other surveillance positions.”

Judd said more agents working in the field would hopefully deal a big blow to drug cartels south of the border.

“The cartels, when they’re able to get their products across, that’s how they make the money,” he said.

“The military will provide certainty of apprehensions, certainty of a seizure, which will then put a dent in the bottom line of these cartels and frankly, hopefully, force them out of business.”

Trump said Tuesday he wanted to send troops to the border until his oft-promised wall can be built. While details of any potential plan remained scarce, Judd said any cost incurred by taxpayers would likely pay off.

“If we, once and for all, secure the border, that burden is alleviated off the taxpayer and it will pay itself back 100 fold.”

Judd also said the agents he represents would welcome more hands.

“If we can apprehend the vast majority of drugs and persons that cross the border, we’ll accept any help that we can get,” he said.

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