National Guard Forces on Border with Mexico to Be Cut in Half

There will be less manpower patrolling the US-Mexico border says the National Guard Bureau. Currently there are 6,000 National Guard Members, mostly volunteers, patrolling the US-Mexico Border along with the members of the Customs and Border Protection Agency.

That is going to change when half of the National Guard members are pulled out in stages that are expected to be completed on Sept 1. The remaining 3,000 National Guard members will continue their surveillance mission . The National Guard members are not involved in any kind of police action, like making arrests or engaging in pursuits . Their responsibility is surveillance of the 2,000 mile long border between the US and Mexico that stretches across the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. They are also responsible for the operation of detection equipment, working with the border entry identification teams of the Customs and Border Protection Agency , analyzing data and information, assisting with communications and giving administrative support to the Border Patrol.

The Customs and Border Protection Agency is the agency responsible for the protection of the US borders with Mexico and Canada and all of the ports of entry into the US including airports and harbors. It is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On a typical day, the Customs and Border Protection Agency will turn away about 3,000 people from all the nation's 314 land, air and seaports and 1.2 million are allowed entrance. This includes all tourists, business people and anyone else whether they try to enter legally or illegally. They are also responsible for making sure that no illegal substances get in and no illegal items such as weapons heading to terrorists get out.

President Bush asked the National Guard to assist in border security in 2006. The spokesman for the National Guard Army Maj. David Kolarik, stated that it was never intended as a permanent solution to the border problem and that the reduction was a part of the original plan.