Governor Susana Martinez inspects National Guard at Border Patrol station

SANTA TERESA – On Thursday, Gov. Susana Martinez visited the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station where she was briefed by U.S. Border Patrol agents along with New Mexico National Guard personnel.

President Donald Trump signed an order on April 4 calling for National Guard deployment on the U.S.-Mexico border, even though statistics showed illegal crossings were at an historic low.

Statistics for March showed an increase in activity, however, and on April 9 Governor Martinez announced a first contingent of 80 National Guard members was on its way to border.

At a news conference on Thursday following a tour of the station, the Governor said she agreed with the President's description of the southern border as having reached "a point of crisis."

"We do not want illegal trafficking of drugs and sex trafficking that takes place and then comes through the border and then impacts the cities of the northern parts of New Mexico," said Martinez.

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The Governor said around 150 are expected to be deployed in New Mexico, with 61 already present, having completed training for supporting the Border Patrol. She made no prediction as to how long the new deployment would last, describing the situation as "fluid."

Martinez emphasized that despite the newly increased military presence, a collaborative relationship between the National Guard and the Border Patrol extends back two decades.

The current mission, she said, was for the military personnel to play a support role, providing maintenance on vehicles and communication systems, freeing up Border Patrol agents for law enforcement duties. She said the National Guard would not engage in any law enforcement activity.

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Brigadier General Thomas Bump of the New Mexico National Guard told reporters the mission was voluntary for service members, and the Governor said no officers of law enforcement agencies in New Mexico who are also on active duty in the National Guard would be sent on this mission.

Bump said that National Guard members' support role would assist in making the border more secure. "Anytime you can free up an agent to get him out on the line is probably beneficial to them accomplishing their mission,” he said.

Although the Governor said "we embrace immigration," she also declared, "We are a nation of laws, and as a nation of laws it says you must come into this country following the law."

Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2608) or adammassa@demingheadlight.com.

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