Governor Jan Brewer Calls on Feds to Immediately Approve Troop Increase on Arizona Border

Press Release

Governor Jan Brewer today has called for immediate action by the federal
government to increase public safety at Arizona's border through the addition of National Guard soldiers and airmen. Governor Brewer made her initial request for additional troops to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on March 11, 2009, followed by a joint letter from four border governors to
congressional leaders on April 22, 2009. Since then, federal officials have neither denied the request, nor fulfilled it. In the wake of the violent killing of highly regarded Cochise County rancher Robert Krentz early Sunday morning, Arizonans were once again reminded of the abject failure of the U.S.
Congress and President Obama to adequately provide public safety along our national border with Mexico.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the Krentz family during this horrible and unnecessary tragedy," said Governor Brewer. "For over a year I have demanded that the federal government fulfill my request, joined by the Governors of Texas, New Mexico, and California, to uphold its constitutional responsibilities and increase security along the border through the deployment of additional National Guard troops. Our citizens must be protected from border violence. Additional soldiers can provide critical support to law enforcement agency operations, and a surge in troops at the Arizona border has been proven in the past to be effective."

Governor Brewer's request for 250 additional National Guard soldiers would fall under the welltested Joint Counter Narco-Terrorism Task Force (JCNTF), also referred to as the National Guard Counter-Drug Program. Despite growing concerns over border violence, the U.S. Congress and the
Obama Administration have not yet fulfilled the surge request. Arizona's border with Mexico is roughly 350 miles in length. The Governor's request would bring the existing JCNTF personnel total to approximately 400 Army and Air National Guard soldiers and airmen.

"I spoke this morning with Sheriff Larry Dever in Cochise County to offer any additional state law enforcement assistance that might be helpful," said Governor Brewer. "State public safety officials, including the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Department of Corrections, are already coordinating and assisting local law enforcement in the search for the
criminals behind this horrific act. We must continue and increase our efforts to hold the federal government accountable, as well as consider any other options necessary to provide public safety for all Arizonans."

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