Under orders from the President, the National Guard is gearing up to do duty along America's southern border, backing up the Border Patrol. And the top man with the National Guard says Southern California is at the top of their list of locations to assist. Capitol Hill Reporter Max Cacas has more.
By the first of August, 6,000 National Guard troops will be among the first to help out along the southern border, according to General Steven Blum, head of the National Guard bureau. He says about 40 percent of the first contingent is going to Arizona.
Blum: That leaves about 20 percent in the other sectors, which will be probably El Paso area, probably El Centro area, and San Diego.
Blum says the Border Patrol laid out the priorities for where and when it needs the support of the National Guard. Troops will maintain vehicles, beef up commuinications networks, and help out at obervation posts. From Washington, Max Cacas, KPBS News.
