AZ National Guard 'starting to show some impact here'

Troops support law-enforcement efforts on border
By Arthur H. Rotstein
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Matt York / The Associated Press

YUMA — Pvt. Ashley Christopher, a member of the Arizona National Guard for only a year, and Sgt. 1st Class Henry Castillo, who has served more than two decades, reflect the diversity of Guard volunteers supporting the Border Patrol's Southwest border clampdown.

But they say all the guardsmen share a sense of mission, and none consider the new job to be a hardship.

The plan President Bush outlined last month calls for placing 6,000 soldiers like Castillo and Christopher in non-law-enforcement roles assisting the Border Patrol along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico this year.

For up to two years, the Guard will take over support jobs that now tie up immigration agents, monitoring sensors, radios and border cameras and dispatching agents in the field to intercept smugglers guiding illegal immigrants and drug traffickers.

Guardsmen also will work on improvements like fencing, lighting, roads or vehicle barriers while the Border Patrol recruits 6,000 more agents to beef up to about 18,000.