U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE DEPLOYMENT OF 1,200 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO THE BORDER

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will hold a press conference today about the deployment of National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico.

The press conference will take place at 3:45 p.m. at the House Triangle. She will be joined by U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, a Republican of Texas.

Earlier today, Giffords announced that the White House has finally agreed to her repeated requests to deploy National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico.

“The White House is doing the right thing,” said Giffords, who called for the Guard’s deployment immediately after the March 27 murder of Cochise County rancher Rob Krentz. “Arizonans know that more boots on the ground means a safer and more secure border. Washington heard our message.”

Later today, President Obama will authorize the deployment of up to 1,200 National Guard troops to southwest border. He also will request that $500 million be included in supplemental spending legislation for enhanced border protection and law enforcement activities.

Giffords wrote to Senators Jon Kyl and John McCain yesterday asking that they stand up for border security and include additional funding in the war supplemental bill making its way through the senate this week.

“The fulfillment of my request is a clear sign that this administration is beginning to take border security seriously,” said Giffords.

The White House has advised the congresswoman that the troops will provide intelligence and intelligence analysis; surveillance and reconnaissance support; immediate support to counternarcotics enforcement; and training capacity until Customs and Border Patrol can recruit and train additional officers and agents to serve on the border. 

The additional funds will be utilized to enhance technology at the border; share information and support with state, local, and tribal law enforcement; and increase Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security presence and law enforcement activities at the border (including more agents, investigators, and prosecutors) as part of a multi-layered effort to target illicit networks trafficking in people, drugs, illegal weapons, and money.

The strategies and actions approved by the President respond directly to requests the congresswoman specified in letters she sent to the President on March 30 and April 15 and a request she made on May 12 for an emergency border security appropriation to address the border security crisis on the Southwest border.