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Tightening the border

President likely to set plan for National Guard to secure southern U.S. border in Monday address

BY CRAIG GORDON | Newsday Washington Bureau

May 13, 2006

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush is expected to use a prime-time address Monday to announce plans to send National Guard troops to the nation's southern border to help stem the tide of illegal immigration, senior administration officials said Friday night.

Bush is weighing a range of options sent to him by the Pentagon that would deploy between 3,500 and nearly 10,000 troops, said administration officials. They said no decision on numbers had been made Friday night.

Bush's speech at 8 p.m. Monday is designed to pressure Congress to finish work on a broad immigration overhaul that has split the two houses, and even the Republican Party. Bush wants the law to contain both a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and stepped-up enforcement, while House Republicans have emphasized only get-tough measures.

But Bush is expected to emphasize his own tough tone on illegal immigration to quiet conservatives who fault him for not doing more on border enforcement. These once-reliable Bush supporters have soured on him of late and pushed his approval ratings lower.

The National Guard plans appear to offer Bush something he badly needs - a way to do better at sealing off the leaky border in the face of complaints by state officials that they can't handle the problem on their own.

In addition, National Guard forces could be deployed almost immediately, as a temporary measure, while additional Border Patrol agents are trained. The cost and duration of any possible deployment was unclear Friday night.

State officials have balked at paying the cost of tougher security and want federal dollars, a plea the White House on Friday night appeared prepared to heed, by allocating some additional border security money already in the budget, an administration official said.

But the plan would pose risks as well, not least of which is the specter of the United States militarizing its border with a friendly neighbor, Mexico. In addition, the National Guard already is facing severe strains from repeated deployments to Iraq - a concern that arose when state governors needed reservists to deal with Hurricane Katrina.

Currently there are about 100 National Guard troops involved in counter-drug operations, including some along the border, guard officials said.

In addition to the National Guard idea, Bush also is considering using private contractors that would free up Border Patrol agents to go into the field, additional unmanned aerial drones and even additional fencing, though administration officials said that would not include a massive fence some anti-immigration hawks are seeking.

Bush's emphasis on security also appears to be a recognition that some lawmakers simply won't go along with the more comprehensive approach to immigration unless they believe Bush is doing more to tighten up the borders.

The White House strategy on immigration has been to wait for the House and Senate to complete work on their own bills, then have Bush weigh in when the two versions go to a conference committee to be reconciled.

The Senate this week forged a compromise on its bill, which in addition to increased enforcement would create a path to citizenship for the immigrants who have been here the longest.

The House bill contains no citizenship provision and focuses only on enforcement. Bush is pushing for a comprehensive approach like the Senate model, but some House Republicans are strongly resisting. Monday's address will be the first time Bush has used the Oval Office for a domestic policy speech - meant to convey the importance he places on the immigration issue.