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March 12, 2008

The National Guard: An Important Tool to Protect Our Border

I hear regularly from many of my New Mexico constituents who are forced to consistently deal with illegal entries into our country. To maintain our border security, I recently introduced legislation to continue Operation Jump Start on the Southwest border and broaden the overall role of the National Guard in border security activities.

Operation Jump Start is a proven initiative that incorporates the National Guard with existing activities carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). During a six-week period in the summer of 2006, Operation Jump Start helped apprehend more than 2,500 illegal immigrants and seize tens of thousands of pounds of illegal drugs.

My legislation, among 15 border security and immigration-related bills introduced in the Senate, would give new life to Operation Jump Start—which the administration is taking steps to phase out this year—by authorizing its 2006 strength of 6,000 guardsmen along the entire Southwest border to help conduct security activities such as surveillance and vehicle barrier construction.

The second part of the bill would expand the authority of state governors to utilize their state���s Guard for border control activities on our borders with Mexico and Canada, including constructing roads, fences, and vehicle barriers, conducting search and rescue missions, gathering intelligence, repairing infrastructure, and otherwise support the DHS Customs and Border Protection directorate. Current law allows the Guard to undertake similar drug interdiction and counter-drug activities.

The legislation provides that in order to utilize Guardsmen for border activities, governors must submit plans to the Secretary of Defense regarding the use of the Guard, and the plans must be approved by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense would be required to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the activities carried out as part of work under this bill.

I believe this legislation would provide an ongoing measure of heightened security along our Southwest border, and give these National Guardsmen valuable experience in areas such as surveillance and intelligence analysis.