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Thousands of Nat`l Guard Troops on U.S.-Mexico Border

The U.S. National Guard says its mission to help secure America`s borders is progressing ahead of schedule. An estimated 3,600 troops are currently operating in the Southwest, along the border with Mexico, giving commanders confidence that they will reach their goal of 6,000 troops by August 1. The chief of the National Guard Bureau, Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, says "We are delivering the capabilities and effects that they have requested."

"As Operation Jump Start kicked off June 15, just a month after President Bush announced it, the National Guard had already exceeded the scheduled commitment of 800 troops by 237. By the month`s end, the Guard`s commitment skyrocketed to 2,800 - 300 above the expectation," Lt. General Blum stated.

"Most of the Guardsmen are coming from the four border states," said Lt. Gen. Blum. "And these are California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Arizona and New Mexico, both with smaller National Guard forces than their neighbors to the immediate east and west, will rely more heavily on troops from other states." Arizona, with two of the biggest sectors of focus, Tucson and Yuma, is likely to see the most out-of-state forces.