Pentagon Considers Sending Troops to US-Mexico Border

The Pentagon is exploring the possibility of sending troops to the US-Mexico border to assist with immigration control, with the number of troops potentially in the thousands. This move comes as President George W. Bush prepares to address a joint session of Congress on Monday, where he is expected to discuss immigration reform. The House of Representatives has already approved a bill that would significantly tighten immigration laws, and the Senate is set to take up the issue again on Monday. The estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the US could be a major focus of the debate.

Key Takeaways:

• The Pentagon is considering sending thousands of troops to the US-Mexico border to assist with immigration control.
• The troops would be drawn from the National Guard in states along the border, which would be placed under federal authority.
• The deployment would be temporary, aimed at filling the gap left by the lack of civilian border agents until more are trained.
• The House of Representatives has already approved a bill emphasizing security measures to block illegal immigration, and the Senate is set to take up the issue again.
• Estimates put the number of undocumented immigrants in the US at close to 12 million.
• The Senate will debate the possibility of using troops to reinforce frontier surveillance.
• The issue is tied to President George W. Bush's address on immigration scheduled for Monday evening.

Statistics:

• 252 votes in favor to 171 opposed in the House of Representatives approving the Pentagon to send soldiers on border-protection duty.
• 12 million: estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the US (EFE)
• Thousands: potential number of troops to be sent to the US-Mexico border (Pentagon officials)

Sources:

• EFE via COMTEX, "Pentagon considers sending troops to U.S.-Mexico border," May 13, 2006.
• Agencia EFE S.A., "Pentagon considera enviar tropas a la frontera con México," May 13, 2006 (EFE).