SAN LUIS, Ariz., June 18 (UPI) -- Some 800 U.S. National Guard troops began working along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border Sunday as part of a federal plan to slow illegal immigration.
Mario Martinez, a Border Patrol spokesman in Washington, told the New York Times the mission called Operation Jump Start will see Guard troops monitoring surveillance cameras and sensors, building roads and building fencing to free up regular Border Patrol agents for patrols.
"The National Guard is not going to be involved in any law enforcement mission," Martinez said. "Actual arrests, seizures, custodial -- none of that stuff."
By August, up to 6,000 Guard members are to be assigned to the border mission under President George Bush's plan. Meanwhile, the Border Patrol is working to hire and train the same number of agents to replace the Guard troops, the report said.
Forty percent of the troops will go to Arizona, the busiest crossing point, and California, Texas and New Mexico will each get about 20 percent of the extra manpower, Martinez said.
