Should President Obama listen to these congressmen about sending armed National Guard troops to the border?

[zacchaeus21]

Bipartisan House Members Demand Armed National Guard at the Border

A bipartisan group of House members announced today they want the president to send armed National Guard troops to the border with rules of engagement that would allow them to defend themselves.

Led by Reps. Ted Poe (R-Texas) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), the group supports border state governors who have been repeatedly asking for troops to assist Border Patrol and local law enforcement agencies overwhelmed by escalating border violence.

In a letter citing instances of murders of U.S. citizens and the occurrence of attacks and further threats to law enforcement personnel, the group urges the president to deploy National Guard troops at levels already requested by the state governors and members of Congress.

They also say the troops should be “provided with very clear guidance of proper rules of engagement and should be armed and allowed to defend themselves if fired upon or attacked.”

What a concept.

When the National Guard was last deployed to the border by the Bush administration, troops were unarmed and served in limited, temporary support roles far removed from actual border patrols.

The United States military is well-trained to guard the borders of other countries around the globe and periodically conducts training exercises along our own border regions.

Full text of the letter:

April 28, 2010

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

As you know, violence in the vicinity of the U.S.-Mexico border continues to increase at an alarming rate. We believe that this violence represents a serious threat to the national security of the United States as well as a serious threat to U.S. citizens that live along the 1,969 mile long border. We strongly believe that it is imperative for your Administration to promptly take the necessary steps to prevent this violence.

We urge the Administration to take action to address this growing national security threat on our southern border. Without swift and decisive action, it is our fear that this violence will only increase in severity and scope. We urge you to deploy the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, as has been requested by a number of border state Governors and Members of Congress. We ask that any National Guard troops that are deployed should be provided with very clear guidance of proper rules of engagement and should be armed and allowed to defend themselves if fired upon or attacked.

As you know, the level of violence along the border continues to increase. Since January 2008, nearly 5,000 homicides have been committed in Juarez, Mexico, making it one of the most violent cities in the world. In 2009 alone, 79 U.S. citizens were killed in Juarez, Mexico. On March 13th of this year, Lesley Enriquez, a U.S. Consulate employee, and her husband Arthur Redelf, a ten year veteran of the El Paso Police Department, were killed when Mexican drug gang members fired a number of rounds at their vehicle. That same day, Jorge Alberto Salcido, the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee, was killed when cartel members shot at his car at a separate location.

On March 27, 2010, Robert Krentz, a longtime Arizona rancher, was found shot dead and slumped over in his all-terrain vehicle with the engine still running. Following the murder of Mr. Krentz, his assailant was tracked to the U.S.- Mexico border and there is evidence that he crossed the border into Mexico. The day before the killing, Mr. Krentz’s brother had called the Border Patrol to report a caravan of illegal immigrants who were ultimately caught carrying 280 pounds of marijuana.

Additionally, our Border Patrol and law enforcement agents along the border are facing a growing threat to their safety. Assaults against Border Patrol agents increased 46 percent from 752 incidents in 2007 to 1,097 incidents in 2008. Recent analysis from the El Paso Sector Border Intelligence Center warns that retaliatory actions against law enforcement officers could occur in the border region.

At the same time, we urge the Administration to provide the Border Patrol with the support it needs, both in terms of tangible resources such as state-of-the-art technology and equipment, as well as ensuring that agents are not disciplined or prosecuted for performing their duties or defending themselves against attacks.

We stand ready to work together with you and your Administration on these important issues to ensure the safety and security of all Americans in the border region and throughout our country.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36737

[piaras91]

Bipartisan House Members Demand Armed National Guard at the Border

A bipartisan group of House members announced today they want the president to send armed National Guard troops to the border with rules of engagement that would allow them to defend themselves.

Led by Reps. Ted Poe (R-Texas) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), the group supports border state governors who have been repeatedly asking for troops to assist Border Patrol and local law enforcement agencies overwhelmed by escalating border violence.

In a letter citing instances of murders of U.S. citizens and the occurrence of attacks and further threats to law enforcement personnel, the group urges the president to deploy National Guard troops at levels already requested by the state governors and members of Congress.

They also say the troops should be “provided with very clear guidance of proper rules of engagement and should be armed and allowed to defend themselves if fired upon or attacked.”

What a concept.

When the National Guard was last deployed to the border by the Bush administration, troops were unarmed and served in limited, temporary support roles far removed from actual border patrols.

The United States military is well-trained to guard the borders of other countries around the globe and periodically conducts training exercises along our own border regions.

Full text of the letter:

April 28, 2010

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

As you know, violence in the vicinity of the U.S.-Mexico border continues to increase at an alarming rate. We believe that this violence represents a serious threat to the national security of the United States as well as a serious threat to U.S. citizens that live along the 1,969 mile long border. We strongly believe that it is imperative for your Administration to promptly take the necessary steps to prevent this violence.

We urge the Administration to take action to address this growing national security threat on our southern border. Without swift and decisive action, it is our fear that this violence will only increase in severity and scope. We urge you to deploy the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, as has been requested by a number of border state Governors and Members of Congress. We ask that any National Guard troops that are deployed should be provided with very clear guidance of proper rules of engagement and should be armed and allowed to defend themselves if fired upon or attacked.

As you know, the level of violence along the border continues to increase. Since January 2008, nearly 5,000 homicides have been committed in Juarez, Mexico, making it one of the most violent cities in the world. In 2009 alone, 79 U.S. citizens were killed in Juarez, Mexico. On March 13th of this year, Lesley Enriquez, a U.S. Consulate employee, and her husband Arthur Redelf, a ten year veteran of the El Paso Police Department, were killed when Mexican drug gang members fired a number of rounds at their vehicle. That same day, Jorge Alberto Salcido, the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee, was killed when cartel members shot at his car at a separate location.

On March 27, 2010, Robert Krentz, a longtime Arizona rancher, was found shot dead and slumped over in his all-terrain vehicle with the engine still running. Following the murder of Mr. Krentz, his assailant was tracked to the U.S.- Mexico border and there is evidence that he crossed the border into Mexico. The day before the killing, Mr. Krentz’s brother had called the Border Patrol to report a caravan of illegal immigrants who were ultimately caught carrying 280 pounds of marijuana.

Additionally, our Border Patrol and law enforcement agents along the border are facing a growing threat to their safety. Assaults against Border Patrol agents increased 46 percent from 752 incidents in 2007 to 1,097 incidents in 2008. Recent analysis from the El Paso Sector Border Intelligence Center warns that retaliatory actions against law enforcement officers could occur in the border region.

At the same time, we urge the Administration to provide the Border Patrol with the support it needs, both in terms of tangible resources such as state-of-the-art technology and equipment, as well as ensuring that agents are not disciplined or prosecuted for performing their duties or defending themselves against attacks.

We stand ready to work together with you and your Administration on these important issues to ensure the safety and security of all Americans in the border region and throughout our country.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36737

This whole issue became an issue after the rancher was shot killed by an illegal who slipped back into Mexico with no chances of ever being caught.The drug cartel does not take kindly to someone turning one of their members over to police.We Americans did not create this problem, the Mexicans did by coming here by the millions.AZ is seen as the gateway into American.Huge amounts of drugs, illegals, smugglers are hauling illegals when caught they lead police on high speed chased.Many smugglers will jump out their ride leaving whoever is in the truck/car in grave danger.Mexico is a violent country and their lawlessness is spilling over into America.We Americans have a right to protect out borders, our citizens. If what all is happening here was to be happening in Mexico they would start arresting and deporting everyone and would use racial profiling to achieve this.Doesn't it all come down to Mexico does not want the flow of American tax dollars to be lower and does not want all who would return to mexico would put a strain on their country as it is doing right now with ours.

[jordi]

Yep

[torran]

The AZ governor could have done it years ago, and didn't.

[osryd]

I like the idea.

[merla15]

He should, but he won't. He needs the future voters streaming across

[vaiveatoish]

I agree. The border should be patroled by armed National Guard troops. After all they are the National Guard. Isn't that what they are supposed to do? Guard the nation

[seme22]

I agree. The border should be patroled by armed National Guard troops. After all they are the National Guard. Isn't that what they are supposed to do? Guard the nation

Ted Poe and Gabrielle Giffords have demonstrated to me that they don't know something critical. They are demanding that Obama do something which he has no authority to do, which is order the National Guard to operate within America's borders. The only person with the authority to activate them is Jan Brewer, governor of Arizona.

The real block to this is Jan Brewer, not Barack Obama.

As for under Bush, the National Guard was authorized to the border by Janet Napolitano, Bill Richardson, and Rick Perry, the then-governors of AZ, NM, and TX (Richardson and Perry are still in their roles). Brewer has not continued this, claiming that Arizona cannot afford it.

Bill Richardson sent about 6 dozen Guardsmen to the border (not a long one, but almost all of it is protected by a physical fence), and Rick Perry already had Texas Guardsmen doing the same. The AZ Guard though remains noticeably absent.

That letter should have been forwarded to Jan Brewer's office; Obama cannot do anything as per the Constitution.