US President Barack Obama will deploy up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the US-Mexican border and request $500 million for enhanced border protection, an administration official said today.
The troops will provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, intelligence analysis, immediate support to counternarcotics enforcement and training capacity until Customs and Border Patrol can recruit and train more officers and agents to serve along the frontier.
The funds will be used to enhance technology at the border and share information and support between law enforcement agencies as they target illegal trafficking in people, drugs, weapons and money.
The immigration issue has been a subject of intense focus in Washington, with Mr Obama calling for comprehensive reform, and speaking out against a tough new law in the border state of Arizona.
The issue also was a focus of a state visit to Washington last week by Mexican president Felipe Calderon.
Reuters