WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- President Bush's expected announcement of using National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border was Monday called more political opportunity than cover.
The U.S. Senate, after weeks of bickering and stalemate, is about to begin its immigration reform debate and Bush apparently hopes his boosting border security will encourage hardliners on the illegal immigration issue to vote for a reform bill that may be less strict than they would want.
"This more political opportunity than political cover," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. The president "cares very deeply about the issue as an ex-border state governor."
The president's plan apparently would feature several thousand National Guard troops, who are normally under the authority of state governors, to be deployed along the 2,000-mile southern border with Mexico in support roles to aid normal border law enforcement personnel.
Duties would include communications and logistics.
White House National security adviser Stephen Hadley, speaking in a television interview Sunday, described the deployment as a "stop-gap" measure while the U.S. Border Patrol increased their personnel numbers.
More than a million illegal immigrants are believed to enter the United States annually across the southern frontier.
The House earlier passed immigration reform legislation that is heavy on enforcement and which does not contain Bush's desired temporary guest worker plan. The House plan, which includes making illegal immigration a felony offence, has galvanized Hispanic communities and illegal immigrant advocacy groups.
The president's speech to the nation on immigration reform is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. EST. The White House said it would last no more than 20 minutes.
