Gov. Ducey extends Arizona National Guard deployment at border for 1 year
Aug 18, 2021, 9:31 AM | Updated: 2:18 pm
(Facebook photo/Arizona National Guard)
(Facebook photo/Arizona National Guard)
PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey announced Wednesday he is extending the Arizona National Guard deployment at the border for one year.
More than 150 National Guard members are serving at the Arizona-Mexico border, according to a press release.
The deployment is being funded by $25 million that was part of the state budget passed at the end of June.
Ducey blamed President Joe Biden’s administration for the extension, saying it has “utterly failed to secure the border.”
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“It’s clear that this White House has neither the ability nor the desire to address the border disaster — a crisis of their own making,” Ducey said in the release.
“Law enforcement is overwhelmed. The situation is out of control. This situation is the direct result of reckless policies and failed communication by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.”
U.S. authorities last month stopped migrants attempting to cross the southern border 212,672 times, the highest number for any month since 2000, according to Federal figures released last week.
Ducey in April declared a state of emergency and sent the National Guard to the border.
The Arizona State Emergency Council previously approved nearly $2.8 million to help fund the deployment until the legislative appropriation was passed.
Arizona’s two Democratic U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly voiced support for Ducey’s declaration and asked the Biden administration to reimburse the state for the deployment.
The announcement of the extension comes nearly one week after Ducey called for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign after the agency leader reportedly told Border Patrol agents the situation was “unsustainable” in audio that was leaked to Fox News.
The National Guard members perform a number of tasks including assisting with medical operations in detention centers, camera maintenance and monitoring, data analysis as well as logistics and administrative support to law enforcement, according to the release.
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