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Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords from Arizona believes the "small number" of troops being sent are a big help. Giffords praised the administration for finally taking action, but only requested for more troops after an Arizona rancher was killed by a suspected illegal immigrant earlier in the year.
In 2006, former President George W. Bush sent 6,000 troops to the border, but it was only a temporary action; they were removed in 2008. Many fear Obama will make the same mistakes as Bush and restrict the National Guard. In 2006, the troops were limited to support roles, instead of enforcement roles that could have allowed them to make arrests and confront smugglers, but the proposed deployment has also been limited based on a statement by White House Official James Jones. Giffords added that Obama has also requested $500 million for "enhanced border protection and law enforcement."
The additional $500 million that Obama has requested would go to improving border security and increasing the number of border personnel to allow for a larger number of agents, investigators and prosecutors to target drug, human and weapons traffickers. Essentially, the National Guard troops being sent now will do the desk work current agents are doing, which ties up their work for being out at the fences. Also, more training will be done for border patrol officers during this time.
Democratic Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard stated that the deployment of troops was a "good start," but believes the troops should have more authority and power to help border patrol officers and agents in identifying and capturing those who breach the border.
Arizona's new immigration law author, Republican State Senator Russell Pearce, also agrees the deployed troops should have more authority and law enforcement power to confront those at the border who are violent or who may be armed. Pearce's concerns stem from a 2007 incident where National Guard troops, who had orders not to return fire, had to call in federal agents when gunmen began approaching their post near the border in Arizona.
Locally, Chuck Fleischmann from Chattanooga, candidate for Congress in the 3rd District responded to Obama's action saying, "The action being taken by the President is not enough, and he is insulting our intelligence by thinking he can use this as a bargaining chip when he later introduces what he will call 'comprehensive immigration reform, but is in reality - amnesty." Fleischmann continued, "We need thousands more National Guard troops and Border Patrol agents to make any measurable difference. We also must complete the proposed southern border fence, and use our technological advantages to their fullest extent. This is not a time for empty gestures to be used later on down the road for political gain. We need real border security and real immigrations enforcement. Illegal immigration is devastating our economy, our schools and our health care system. It is also a very real threat to our national security, and the problem must be solved. Now."
Fleischmann isn't standing alone in his statements, as many proponents have much of the same feelings. The same cant be said for opponents of the action Obama has taken and there seems to be much concern that the President started with border control, instead of immigration reform. Janet Murguia called it "deeply disappointing." Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic civil rights organization would have rather seen Obama change immigration law instead of increasing border security.
The United States is even receiving statements from south of the border. The Mexican government objects to military support upholding immigration law and stated that they hope the National Guard has been placed at the border to control drug cartels and not enforce the United States immigration law. Mexico's President, Felipe Calderon, blamed the United States for the flow of weapons into Mexico and the reasoning for all of the violence today. He then stated that the United States should be focusing on that aspect of control and not arresting Mexicans trying to cross the border. In very few words, the Obama Administration agreed when State Department spokesman Philip Crowley publicly announced, "It's not about immigration."
Governor Brewer stated she was "pleased" with the action Obama has now taken, but many unforeseen factors still remain. Brewer added, "I am anxious to hear of the details that have not yet been disclosed of where, how and for how long additional forces will be deployed..." Until then, many government officials say they will make due with what they can get to try to secure America's southern border from illegal immigrants.
According to Wikipedia, as of 2008 it was thought nearly 12 million illegal immigrants were living in America; nearly 60% of those illegal immigrants are from Mexico.
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